Falls in the Hills (from Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

John William Casilear’s “Falls in the Hills,” a delicate graphite drawing from his sketchbook, captures a quiet moment in the American landscape during the 1830s. Created on wove paper measuring just 7¼ by 9 inches, the work reflects the era’s growing fascination with the natural beauty of the young nation. American artists of the time often carried sketchbooks on their travels, using them to record scenes that would later inspire larger paintings or simply preserve the character of the countryside. The choice of graphite allowed Casilear to explore subtle gradations of light and texture with...

About the Artist

John William Casilear · 1811–1893

John William Casilear, born on June 25, 1811, in New York City, began his artistic career as an engraver, apprenticed under the prominent Peter Maverick in 1826. He later studied painting under Asher B. Durand in 1831, forming a close friendship that profoundly shaped his path. Durand, influenced by Thomas Cole, introduced Casilear to landscape painting by the mid-1830s, transitioning him from ban...