West Point
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Fortunato Porotto
Accession Number
1963.6.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
Ernest C. Peixotto’s 1897 drawing “West Point” offers a quiet glimpse of the United States Military Academy landscape. Rendered simply the drawing medium, work highlights a tunnel that threads through the rugged terrain along the Hudson River. The precise lines and subtle shading typical of-nineteenth-century draftsmanship convey both the engineering strength of the structure and the surrounding natural setting. Created during a period when West Point was solidifying its role as a training ground for American military leaders, the drawing reflects the era’s fascination with infrastructure and...