Third Avenue El

Third Avenue El, set in New York City, features the corner of an intersection with four uniquely colored buildings. One has a brick-like color and texture, and the rest with uncommonly bright colors like pale blues, greens, and reds. These bright colors give the painting a calming and happy mood. The townhouse-style buildings include a few small businesses, such as a laundry and a shop. The scene is set in the winter, with snow on the streets and people bundled in hats and coats as they walk along the sidewalks. Sunlight shines directly on the buildings, making the colors appear even brighter and emphasizing the whiteness of the snow. The viewer’s point of view is at eye level with the buildings, which makes the facial features of the people on the sidewalks blurry and shifts attention toward the overall layout of the street. This perspective helps the viewer understand the space of the scene while still feeling slightly detached, as if observing from just above street level. The street is not crowded, and the people are spaced out, one couple holding hands, another talking, and a few standing by themselves. The three-dimensional buildings bring out sharp lines that define the angles in the foreground, while the softer gray corner building draws attention to the elevated railway train crossing Third Street. The horizon has more buildings in the background, darker in color and cast in shadow, offset by the bright blue sky above them. The color of the sky brings the overall mood of the painting together, creating a sense of peace and happiness through its light, beautiful blue.

Nelson, Carl Gustaf (Simon), 1898 - 1988

Buffone, Jasmine (description and biography)

Helquist, Morgan (photography)

New Deal Museum Mount Morris NY

Object #FA 125

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Oil on canvas

Canvas: 24 x 20 × 24 in. 
Frame: 25 1/8 x 21 1/4 in.