The Entrance to the Highlands: Hudson River --Looking South

In this New York landscape of a picturesque region of the Hudson River, several sailboats (their sails reflected in the water) and one paddle steamship travel between steep, wooded cliffs. This print presents a dramatic mid-river view of the Hudson Highlands, which are the mountains on both sides of the Hudson River between Newburgh Bay and Haverstraw Bay.

Nathaniel Currier, who established a successful New York-based lithography firm in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with James Merritt Ives (1824–1895), the brother-in-law of Nathaniel's younger brother and colleague Charles. People eagerly acquired Currier & Ives lithographs, such as those featuring spectacular American landscapes like this one, or rural and city views, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments.