European Printmakers’ Imaginative Visions of Colonial American Cities
History
During the 18th and 19th centuries, European printmakers faced a challenge: creating images of far-off colonial American cities without ever having visited them. To satisfy the public’s demand for these exotic views, artists turned to their imaginations.
Economic Motivations and Lack of Originality
Printmakers often relied on existing artwork as inspiration, copying designs to save time and money. The concept of originality was not yet firmly established in the art world, so artists felt little hesitation in borrowing from others.
The Rise of Vues d’Optique
German engravers Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt and Franz Xaver Habermann created a unique type of print called vues d’optique. These prints were designed to be viewed through a zograscope, an optical device that made them appear three-dimensional.
Borrowing European City Views
Surprisingly, Leizelt and Habermann did not base their American city views on actual depictions of those cities. Instead, they drew inspiration from existing views of European cities. This resulted in some highly inaccurate and fanciful representations.
Fictionalized Views of Philadelphia and New York
For example, their “Philadelphie” and “La nouvelle Yorck” prints feature elements copied from a view of the Royal dockyard at Deptford, England. These harbor scenes bear little resemblance to the colonial cities they were intended to represent.
Inaccurate Depictions of Boston and the Statue of George III
Leizelt and Habermann’s view of King Street in Boston shows a bustling street scene with a flamboyant Presbyterian church that would have been highly unusual in colonial Boston. Similarly, their depiction of the destruction of the statue of George III in New York City features an erroneous statue.
Entertainment Value over Accuracy
Despite their inaccuracies, Leizelt and Habermann’s vues d’optique were popular entertainment at social gatherings. People enjoyed looking through the zograscope and marveling at the vivid colors and optical illusions.
Recent Availability of Leizelt and Habermann’s Prints
The Clements Library at the University of Michigan possesses a significant collection of Leizelt and Habermann’s vues d’optique. These prints have recently been made available through the University of Michigan Library Catalog Search and will soon be added to the Clements Image Bank.
Impact of European Printmakers
While European printmakers’ depictions of colonial American cities were often inaccurate, they played an intriguing role in shaping the public’s perception of these distant lands. Their imaginative visions provided a glimpse into the exotic and unfamiliar world across the Atlantic.
