Outline Sketch of a Ship's Stern (from Sketchbook) 1891

Albert Bierstadt created this pencil sketch of a ship's stern as part of a larger sketchbook, sometime in the mid-to-late 19th century. Although just a quick outline, the sketch hints at the larger context of 19th-century American art, specifically how artists contributed to the narrative of westward expansion and maritime exploration. During this period, the Hudson River School, to which Bierstadt belonged, often depicted landscapes and natural wonders. These images played a role in shaping American identity and manifest destiny, encouraging settlement and resource extraction. By focusing on the details of a ship, Bierstadt indirectly references the technologies and infrastructure that enabled this expansion. To fully understand this image, we can look into the diaries, letters, and financial records of the period to better understand the cultural and institutional forces that shaped Bierstadt's work. In doing so, we understand how art reflects and influences the society in which it was made.