View of the City of New York and the Marine Hospital Taken from Wallabout 1799 - 1884

Editor: This is Nicolino Calyo’s “View of the City of New York and the Marine Hospital Taken from Wallabout,” likely made between 1799 and 1884 using oil paint. I find the detail in the ships quite compelling, contrasted with the almost mundane domestic scene on the right. How would you interpret this painting? Curator: Well, I see a very interesting interplay of material concerns at play here. Let's consider the painting itself, the pigment on canvas. Calyo’s choice of oil paint is crucial, reflecting its accessibility and widespread use in depicting burgeoning cities and landscapes for a rising middle class. This romantic depiction belies, however, the physical labor involved in producing the pigments themselves. What do you think about that relationship? Editor: That's interesting; I never considered the work that went into making the medium itself, just the subject of the painting! It portrays such a serene scene of labor happening around the subject. Curator: Precisely! Now, consider the “Marine Hospital.” Its presence suggests concern for maritime workers, who were vital to New York's economy. Can you envision the materiality of the hospital: the bricks, the wood, and how these imported materials fueled New York’s transformation? Editor: Right! It's not just a scenic view, but a picture of a developing infrastructure relying on natural resources and human labor. The painting serves as a record and almost obscures these historical conditions under the romantic aesthetic, Curator: Exactly. Calyo provides an important document. We’re left pondering how labor and materials were consumed and circulated in early America. Editor: Thank you. I will definitely look closer at these unseen relationships moving forward. It changes how I view these kinds of historical landscapes!