In Emanuel Leutze Historic painting of George Washington Crossing the Delaware River he uses various techniques to emphasize his message. Leutze uses his interpretation of Washington and his leadership to inspire his creation of what he believes the attack of Trenton on December 25th 1776 looked like. Leutze uses techniques such as contrasts in colors and placement to display leadership and patriotism which through Washington eventually lead to the independence of the United States of America. 

In Leutze painting the first thing that pops out is the contrast of light colors from the darker ones. In the foreground the colors are dark and bleak, the water is murky and the boat Washington is riding on looks black instead of brown. Continuing up the photo into the upper half starting at Washington’s waste the colors begin to grow brighter into lighter colors. These contrast from murky, dark colors too bright can be a symbolic representation of the times during the American revolution. The bottom half of the photo the murky water can represent the tyranny taking place with King George and the troubles of that time. The upper half of the photo represents the future and how with the right leadership can be bright and uplifting. Washington’s head in the photo is surrounded by white clouds. White in western culture symbolizes purity and positivity. Having Washington’s head in the clouds symbolizes Washington’s outlook for the country and the how bright the future can be for this nation if under the right leadership. 

Leutze also in his use of colors captures the Patriotism that this photo conveys. The three prominent colors in this picture are red, white, and blue. The color red represents strength, power, war, and determination. Over George Washington’s shoulder in the painting is a red cloth which represents his determination and strength in fighting against tyranny in the revolutionary war. White represents purity and has a positive connotation around it. The color white is present in the sky around Washington’s head and just upon the horizon. The white represents the intention of Washington with his sneak attack of the British on the early morning of Christmas to gain a momentum shift of the Revolutionary war. Lastly the color blue is prominent in this painting which can be seen on Washington’s shirt and in the sky. Blue represents stability, wisdom, and is a calming color. The blue on Washington represents his superior experience and intellect which played a major role in the colonist winning in their revolt against the powerhouse which was Great Britain at the time. The blue in the sky represents the stability that has existed since the American Revolution in the United States of America over the last two hundred plus years. 

Combined the three colors of red, white, and blue, are the colors that make up the US flag which is the main symbol of American patriotism. The American flag is placed dead in the center of the painting. Leutze places the flag in the middle to emphasize that the flag is the most important aspect. The flag is symbolic in American culture because it is symbolic of freedom. The American flag represents the togetherness of our country and how that even an untrained militia can upset a global superpower when working together with a common goal in mind. With that attitude America was able to fight against oppression together and win independence.   

Another aspect of Leutze painting is the placement of Washington in the painting. Leutze in the painting places Washington in the front of the photo ahead of all the other boats in the background. Leutze also places Washington higher up than all other people in the painting. Leutze does this as a way of showing Washington’s leadership and courage by fighting with the front lines unlike British generals and commanders at the time. Fighting in the front lines with the rest of the troops is a major moral boost for soldiers fighting. The idea that a commander is willing to die with his men as to accomplish a common goal is inspirational to the men fighting with him. Washington’s position in the photo is intentional by Leutze as a way off displaying Washington’s bravery and courageousness in the Revolutionary War. 

All in all, Leutze uses colors and placement in his painting to convey a patriotic and inspiring message to those who see it. Leutze is able to create a historical painting of an event that changed the course of the United States and the world. 
