Battery Park, New York 1849

Christian Gottlieb Cantzlier created this wash and graphite drawing of Battery Park in New York. This image offers us a glimpse into the social life of early 19th-century New York City. Battery Park, with its carefully arranged trees and winding paths, embodies the emerging ideal of the public park as a space for leisure and social interaction. The figures are arranged to show a cross-section of society, strolling and relaxing. The park itself was shaped by economic forces, such as the growth of the city and the increasing demand for recreational spaces. The image is interesting as it depicts the social structures of its time. By studying historical maps, city records, and period newspapers, we can better understand the social role that Battery Park played in the life of New Yorkers. The meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.