Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

These buildings still stand on Genesee Street between Oak and Ellicott Streets, by Chippewa Street in Buffalo, New York. The preparatory drawing provided details for the 1940-47 watercolor of the same title that is in the collection of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts.

Street Scene depicts trade and commerce buildings on Genesee Street, including the Giesser Building at #99 and the Werner Photography Building at #101-103. The large scissors sign illustrates that owner Gabriel Giesser sold knives, cutlery, and barber and butcher supplies. Architect Richard A. Waite designed the mixed use commercial and residential building for Mr. Giesser’s wife, Frederike, in 1895. Albert L. Werner was the earliest tenant of the photography building that has a distinctive two-story convex skylight on its north façade to provide natural daylight in the studio.