Curatorial Narrative Ann Nooney’s “Closing Time” (1937-1942) occupies a pivotal position within the trajectory of modern art, straddling the divide between realism and surrealism. The artist’s innovative use of stark lighting contrasts imbues the solitary figures within the work with an aura of desolation, subtly subverting the viewer’s expectations. By employing loose brushwork and an expressive palette that oscillates between dark blues, muted greens, warm yellows, and reds from the storefront awning and signage, Nooney conjures a sense of spatial ambiguity. The resulting atmosphere is one of tension, as if the very fabric of time itself has become suspended. Upon enlargement to 53×44 inches, “Closing Time” exerts a profound influence on its surroundings, its chromatic structure commanding attention through a deliberate interplay of warm and cool hues. As the dark blues and muted greens seem to compress the space, they are count