Staten Island Street c. 1935 - 1943

Ann Nooney created this screen print, 'Staten Island Street,' at some point in the mid-twentieth century. The image shows a steep road winding past a series of brightly colored houses, capturing the light and texture of a particular place. I love that it’s a bit wonky and off-kilter. I can only imagine the concentration it took to align the successive layers of color to make this print. It is such a patient medium. Nooney's limited palette of greens, reds, blues, and browns gives the image a unified feel, while also highlighting the distinct character of each building. The rhythmic repetition of geometric shapes, like the gabled roofs and rectangular windows, creates a sense of pattern. The lone figure walking up the hill suggests a narrative, a story unfolding in this quiet, residential neighborhood. As with Edward Hopper, there’s a sense of melancholy, an invitation to contemplate urban life, our place in the world and how we navigate the spaces we inhabit. Painters have always looked to one another for inspiration, working within a shared language, while also pushing the boundaries of the medium.