Shawangunk Mt., Catskills, 1871 (from Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,Shawangunk Mt., Catskills, 1871 (from Sketchbook)* by Daniel Huntington offers a intimate glimpse into 19th-century American landscape. Created around 1870, this modest graphite drawing on paper—measuring just 5½ x 8¾ inches—captures the beauty of the Shawangunk Mountains in New York's Catskill range, a region celebrated for its dramatic peaks and lush valleys that inspired generations of artists during the Hudson River School era. Huntington, a prominent American artist known for his detailed studies, likely made this sketch en plein air or from close observation, as was common in sketchbooks for gathering references for larger oil paintings. The graphite medium allowed for swift, expressive lines that convey the mountain's contours, texture, and atmospheric depth, highlighting the era's emphasis on nature's sublime power amid rapid industrialization. This gifted work from 1936 reminds us of the Catskills' cultural role as a retreat for urban artists, evoking a sense of awe and preservation. Visitors can appreciate how such portable sketches fueled the Romantic ideal of America's wild frontiers, bridging personal exploration with national identity.

About the Artist

Daniel Huntington · 1816–1906

Daniel Huntington (1816–1906) was born into a prominent New York family on October 4, 1816, descending from distinguished New England lineage. His early education began at age fourteen at Smith's Academy in New Haven, followed by Yale College, where he studied with Samuel F. B. Morse, the inventor, artist, and president of the National Academy of Design, in 1835. After a disciplinary incident invo...