Artwork
New York—Street Scene
New York—Street Scene is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:upper center in graphite: Sangorno (?)
About this work
Overview
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze, a German‑born artist who worked in the United States, produced the drawing New York, Street Scene in 1864. Executed with graphite and a wash on a blue‑gray laid paper support, the work records a bustling, disorderly New York street populated by pedestrians and horses.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of urban chaos: a fallen horse lies in the foreground while other horses rear or bolt, and figures scramble to control them or flee. The scene conveys the kinetic energy and occasional disorder of mid‑nineteenth‑century city life.
Technique & Style
Leutze applied graphite for line work and employed a diluted wash to model forms and suggest atmosphere. The blue‑gray paper provides a muted ground that enhances the contrast of darker washes, directing attention to the central figures and reinforcing a sense of depth through chiaroscuro modeling.
History & Provenance
Created during the Civil War era, the drawing reflects Leutze’s broader practice of juxtaposing historical narrative with contemporary observation. Although primarily known for large historical canvases, this work demonstrates his interest in everyday urban subjects, though its ownership history after its 1864 completion remains undocumented in the available record.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (May 24, 1816 – July 18, 1868) was a German-born American history painter, best known for his 1851 painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. He is associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting.
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