Die Ankrufft des Koniglichen Prinzen William Henry von Engelland zu Neuyork in Amerika 1781 den 16 October

A supposed scene of the arrival of Prince William Henry (the later King William IV) of England into New York on October 16, 1781. The 16-year-old Prince served as a naval officer during the American Revolutionary War. In fact, the scene is a reverse copy of William Woollett's (1735-1785) engraving 'The Fishery,' made after a painting by Richard Wright of London in 1768. A new context was added a decade later by Leizelt. Its original title came from the foreground detail of the beached boats and fishermen unloading and sorting their catch. A sign hanging from the rear of a horse-drawn cart that once was inscribed 'Fish Machine' is now inscribed 'Fish' by Leizelt.

This print was published for a 'Collection des Prospects' in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, an important center of print production. Before it was trimmed, the words, 'L'Arrive du Prince Ouillaume Henry a Nouvelle York' was once printed in reverse above the image, which was characteristic of a vue d'optique. The vue d'optique, or perspective view were popular during the second half of the 18th century and into the 19th. When viewed through an optical device known as a zograscope, the print provided an illusion of depth.