Conway, a St. Louis native, studied art at Washington University’s School of Fine Arts and in several schools in Paris, including the Académie Julian. He is known as a painter, educator and lecturer and was an active member of the St. Louis art scene. From 1929-1970 Conway taught at the School of Fine Arts, and he is known for numerous murals created for the WPA (Works Progress Administration). Over the course of his career he experimented with numerous styles and modes of expression, but throughout his body of work there is an emphasis on the landscape.

In this work, Conway moves away from strict representation of the urban landscape to an abstracted expression of the energy of a busy, rain-splattered intersection. The thickly applied paint creates visual tension on the surface of the canvas, while the stark contrast of dark shadows, bright splashes of yellow and intensely brilliant blues keep our eyes constantly moving around the composition. These elements work together to recreate the dynamic energy of the urban scene.