River Wall, Oporto

Curatorial Overview

“Starting in 1920, Peets was commissioned by the Hispanic Society of America to travel to Portugal and create art reflecting his experience. In this image, the residents of Porto, Portugal, conduct their lives along the Douro River. The winding river wall and plunging stones that vanish into the water highlight features of the old European town. The image is framed so as not to include the massive metal arch bridges that crossed the Douro since the 1880s.”