View of West Mountain 

"View of West Mountain" is a pen and wash drawing by John Trumbull, made sometime around the late 18th or early 19th century. Trumbull was not only an artist but also a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and this work offers insight into the intersection of his personal experiences and the historical context of a nascent nation. The subdued tones and stark representation of the landscape evoke a sense of quiet contemplation. Trumbull’s choice to depict a seemingly untouched landscape is not neutral. During this time the concept of ‘terra nullius’ was used to dispossess indigenous populations and to claim ownership, which deeply affects our understanding of the land. What we see in this unassuming sketch of West Mountain is not just a landscape, but a reflection of the complex relationship between identity, ownership, and the narratives we construct about our place in the world.