Artwork
New York City and Harbor from Weehawken
New York City and Harbor from Weehawken is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Pavel Petrovich Svinin. It dates from 1811 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
New York City and Harbor from Weehawken is a watercolor and gouache work on paper, created circa 1811 by Pavel Petrovich Svinin, capturing a landscape view of the city's river and harbor from across the water in Weehawken.
Subject & Meaning
The piece documents the bustling early 19th-century harbor, portraying sails, masts, and shoreline buildings in soft morning light, offering a straightforward depiction of the scene without idealization.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor and gouache on off-white wove paper, the work reflects Svinin's practice of quick, on-the-spot sketching, characteristic of his travel documentation style.
History & Provenance
Created during Svinin's two-year travels in America, this piece is among the earliest images of New York City by a visiting artist, distinguishing it within the collection of The American Wing.
Context
As a Russian diplomat, writer, and artist, Svinin's dual role influenced his artistic perspective, though this work contrasts with his tendency towards embellished narratives in favor of a more direct representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pavel Petrovich Svinyin or Svinin (Russian: Па́вел Петро́вич Свиньи́н; 19 June 1787 – 21 April 1839) was a Russian writer, painter, and editor, known as a "Russian Munchausen" for many exaggerated accounts of his travels.
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