First Infant School in Green Street, New York

Art Historical Context

Step into 19th-century New York with this charming 1828 lithograph *First Infant School in Green Street New York*, a collaboration between Scottish-American painter Archibald Robertson and lithographer Anthony Imbert Printed on a sheet measuring nearly 12 by 8 inches, it features two scenes: an upper view of young students engaged in lively activities and a lower one capturing the bustling classroom interior. The Edward W. C. Arnold Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves this vivid snapshot of early urban education. Lithography, a revolutionary technique invented just decades earlier, allowed Imbert's precise stone-based printing to reproduce detailed images affordably—ideal for documenting everyday life. Here, it immortalizes one of New York City's earliest infant schools, institutions inspired by British models that emphasized play and moral instruction for children as young as three. Boys and girls sit attentively with their teacher amid desks and blackboards, reflecting the era's push for accessible schooling amid rapid city growth. This print offers a window into America's educational awakening, highlighting gender-integrated learning in a diverse immigrant hub. Its intimate scale and documentary style make it a treasured artifact of social progress and printmaking innovation.