Harlem River
Ernest Lawson American, born Canada
The most prominent structure in this view of Washington Heights, one of many by Lawson, is Washington Bridge, completed in 1888 as a link between northern Manhattan and the Bronx over the Harlem River at 181st Street (not to be confused with the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River, which opened in 1931). Lawson emphasized drama and design, not topographical accuracy. Looking toward the Bronx from the Manhattan riverbank, he eliminated the bridge’s wide masonry arches—a feat of modern engineering—and radically foreshortened the span on the Bronx side. Twilight and twinkling lights create a romantic mood.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
