Not only was the painting inspiring to the people of the German Confederation, but it has become a staple in American culture as well.
When taking a look at the painting, one can notice the careful attention to detail and proportion that Leutze executed. It can be noted that the conditions of the cold winter had been captured as many of the men are wearing a great deal of clothing. It is also clear that Leutze envisioned that the troops had endured strong winds as one soldier struggles to hold a flag as well as another holding his hat as to not let it blow away. His depiction of the commander, George Washington, is one of poise and confidence. Washington seems to show all of the characteristics of a true leader as he maintains his composure in order to reassure his men of their cause. The painting also exemplifies the diversity of the continental army as there are soldiers of many different ages as well as African-American soldier directly in front of Washington. This may have been a way for Leutze to symbolize the equality of all men as they are working toward a common goal. The overcrowding of the boats shows the lack of necessary equipment that the continental army had to overcome in their struggle for independence. .
Many historical inaccuracies can be found in the painting as well. First and foremost, the crossing took place at night with many diary accounts from the present soldiers describing the sleet and snowy conditions, which would make visibility almost non-existent. Another point of note is that the ice in the river would not have been in large cubes as depicted, but rather in thin sheets as the river freezes on top would likely had to have been broken by soldiers as they crossed. This can be attributed to the fact that Leutze was in Germany at the time of the painting and used the Rhine River as a model, which has different freezing characteristics in the winter. .
Keeping in mind the characteristics of the Delaware River ice, it is important to note that the boats captured in the painting are quite different than what would have been used by the army at this time.
