Village on Lake Como: May 1, 1869 (verso, from sketchbook)

McEntee employed graphite for linear definition and applied white gouache to highlight reflective surfaces and atmospheric highlights. The blue paper serves as a mid‑tone ground, allowing both dark graphite strokes and luminous gouache to stand out. This combination of media creates a dreamlike effect typical of the Hudson River School’s emphasis on mood and natural light.

The drawing originates from the verso of a sketchbook belonging to Jervis McEntee, an American artist associated with the Hudson River School. Though less celebrated than some of his contemporaries, McEnville’s works were circulated among the movement’s core circle. The piece entered the museum’s American Wing collection through a mid‑20th‑century donation of McEntee’s papers.

During the late 1860s, McEntee traveled extensively in Europe, documenting scenery that contrasted with the American wilderness favored by his peers. His journals, later published, provide insight into the artistic exchanges between American and European landscapes, reflecting the broader Gilded Age interest in transatlantic cultural dialogue.