“Gateway to Greenwich Village — Washington Square Arch and Fifth Avenue, New York City, c.1900s” (watermarks do not appear on the actual artwork.)
“Gateway to Greenwich Village — Washington Square Arch and Fifth Avenue, New York City, c.1900s” (watermarks do not appear on the actual artwork.)
“Gateway to Greenwich Village — Washington Square Arch and Fifth Avenue, New York City, c.1900s” (watermarks do not appear on the actual artwork.)
“Gateway to Greenwich Village — Washington Square Arch and Fifth Avenue, New York City, c.1900s” (Original vintage glass camera negative, not for sale, display only.)
“Gateway to Greenwich Village — Washington Square Arch and Fifth Avenue, New York City, c.1900s”, c.1900s
Further images
Step back to the dawn of the 20th century, when horse-drawn carriages and early motorcars shared the quiet winter streets of Greenwich Village. This striking historical photograph captures the iconic Washington Square Arch, standing proudly at the foot of Fifth Avenue — a timeless symbol of New York’s artistic soul and patriotic spirit.
Originally constructed in 1889 to honor the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration, the Arch became the grand gateway between uptown elegance and downtown bohemia. Behind it lay the narrow streets of the Village, soon to be home to poets, painters, and revolutionaries of modern American art.
The soft light and bare trees evoke a city in transformation — poised between the Gilded Age and the modern era. This rare early view of Washington Square Park and its approach from Fifth Avenue immortalizes a quieter New York, long before the skyline rose above it.
A masterfully preserved image of architectural grace and historical resonance — an essential piece for collectors of vintage New York City photography.
Provenance
Past in Present.com Inc private historical archive.