The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of October 17, 2026

A vertical bromoil print overlooks dark, craggy wooden pilings rising from a reflective river. In the middle ground, a large steamship trailing white smoke moves away, accompanied by a smaller boat. Grainy, stippled textures define a massive arched bridge looming in the background, its form obscured by a thick, atmospheric haze. Printed text along the bottom edge reads, "CUYAHOGA RIVER SCENE – CLEVELAND," with a signature on the right.

Cuyahoga River Scene, Cleveland

1950s–60s

Lawrence Schreiber

(American, 1904–1982)
America
bromoil print
Gift of William Kubat 2023.89
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Lawrence Schreiber uses the verticality of the composition to present three layers of the history of river transport in this image.

Description

In the foreground, the rotting remnants of a wooden pier suggest that older, smaller scale forms of transport gave way to massive freighters, one of which occupies the middle ground. A tugboat helps it navigate the river bends. At the top, Schreiber has placed the Detroit Superior Bridge, completed in 1919 and so tall that it need not open to allow the freighters to pass.
  • {{cite web|title=Cuyahoga River Scene, Cleveland|url=false|author=Lawrence Schreiber|year=1950s–60s|access-date=17 October 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.89