Elevated Railroad, Broadway, New York 1861

This is J. Beigel's "Elevated Railroad, Broadway, New York," an undated drawing on paper, which now resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The drawing presents a vista defined by its linear structure, using a sepia palette that evokes a sense of urban expansion. The perspective is carefully calibrated to highlight the linear progression of the elevated railroad, which acts as both subject and organizing principle. The repetition of vertical columns and arching supports creates a rhythmic pattern that draws the eye into the composition, while the soft washes give depth to the structural elements. The artist plays with visual codes through the implementation of geometric regularity and orthogonal lines, which communicate the industrial progress and modernity. The sepia tones and faded appearance, however, simultaneously suggest a nostalgic rendering of the future. The drawing embodies a tension between architectural precision and the subtle decay of its materiality, reflecting on themes of progress, memory, and the structural underpinnings of urban life.