Ledger Figures (from Sketchbook) 1811 - 1893

Here's a page of "Ledger Figures" from a sketchbook by John William Casilear, who lived and worked in 19th century America. His meticulous records, filled with items like ‘apples’ and names such as ‘Timothy Skrapevile,’ offer a glimpse into the economic exchanges of his time. Casilear’s meticulous script invites us to reflect on the connections between daily life and art. Trained as an engraver, his attention to detail speaks to the economic and social fabric of the 19th century. He was part of the Hudson River School, a group of landscape painters who romanticized the American wilderness. Casilear turned from commerce to art, joining a movement that was, in its own way, deeply entangled with commercial forces. Landscape paintings from the time encouraged settlement and agriculture in the West. This piece is emotionally resonant because it shows that even artists deal with daily economic matters. Casilear's page echoes the everyday, reminding us that artistic expression is often rooted in the mundane tasks that structure our lives.