Madison Square by Gustave Baumann
Madison Square
Gustave Baumann
Title
Madison Square
Artist
Gustave Baumann
1881 - 1971 (biography)Year
1917
Technique
color woodcut
Image Size
13-3/16 11-1/16" image
Signature
unsigned
Edition Size
no 26/100 (in green ink in Baumann's hand)
Annotations
titled in another hand (possibly by Ann Baumann); certificate verso signed by Jane Baumann
Reference
GB32; Chamberlain 51
Paper
cream Zanders laid with Bergisch Gladbach watermark
State
Publisher
Inventory ID
AB3052
Price
$7,500.00
Description
Madison Square is one of three color woodcuts that Baumann produced from his 1917 visit to New York City. The other two are Fifth Avenue and The Palisade. During 1917, Baumann used his Swanli chop which he carved into the blue block for both Madison Square and Fifth Avenue.
Depicted here is the second Madison Square Garden which was a Moorish style building designed by Stanford White and cost more than a half-million dollars to build. It opened in June 1890. The focal point is the looming Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower that is located at Madison Avenue and 24th Street. The 700-foot-tall tower was completed in 1909 and was the tallest building in the world until 1912.