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Romanticizing the West

Romanticizing the West. Manifest Destiny in the Romantic Era of art. Manifest Destiny. Going West had always been a prominent notion in American History, this notion gained strength with Manifest Destiny

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Romanticizing the West

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  1. Romanticizing the West Manifest Destiny in the Romantic Era of art

  2. Manifest Destiny • Going West had always been a prominent notion in American History, this notion gained strength with Manifest Destiny • Manifest Destiny was the idea that it was the United States’ responsibility to spread democracy to the West. • While the idea of Manifest Destiny had been common earlier, the title first appeared in 1845 in United States Magazine and Democratic Review.

  3. Polk and Manifest Destiny • 1945 was also the year of James Polk’s election • Ran on an expansionist platform, his election was seen as a mandate for manifest destiny and westward movement. • Used Manifest Destiny as a reason for expansion and the Mexican War and land acquisition. • Encouraged expansion and movement west.

  4. Romanticism • Was the predominant art style from 1780-1850 • Focused on the Sublime, and the triumph of imagination and individuality. Was not always in touch with reality. • Prominent in American Art in the time of Manifest Destiny.

  5. Hudson River School • A prominent group of painters who were active during the Romantic Era of Manifest Destiny was the Hudson River School • The Hudson River School was founded by Thomas Cole around 1850 and included artists such as Albert Bierstadt, and Asher B. Durand • The Hudson River School painted landscapes, many of them from expeditions West. These Landscapes were painted in a highly romanticized fashion, encouraging the idea of Manifest Destiny.

  6. Bierstadt, “Looking Down Yosemite” 1850 • Depicts Nature uncorrupted by humans • Overlooks problems such as Indian removal and environmental exploitation • Metaphysical, focus on the unknown and sublime • Immensely beautiful depiction of a real place, makes people want to go there

  7. Cole, “The Oxbow” 1825 • Divides the painting into two opposite views of nature, the wild forest • To the left (west) and the tamed land to the right (east) • Brings up the issue of preserving nature. • Focus on Nature, not people

  8. Depiction of the trip West on the Oregon trail • Dreamlike depiction of an adventurous group • Image of what Manifest Destiny is all about • Does not address challenges faced on the trip west.

  9. The art of the Hudson River School clearly shows the effect of Manifest Destiny on art for the time period in the United States. Manifest Destiny and the beautiful landscapes of the west inspired these artists, as well as many more artists to center their art on romanticizing the West. Albert Bierstadt The romantic portrayal of the West in turn inspired many people to move west, creating a situation similar to that created by Horatio Alger, where many real problems were not addressed. The effect of art on society in the US was that it advertised the west and motivated people to take the journey. Thomas Cole

  10. Bibliography • Avery, Kevin. "The Hudson River School." Department of American Paintings and Sculpture, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Source: The Hudson River School | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Web. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hurs/hd_hurs.htm>. • Magister, Senex. "Thomas Cole American Hudson River School Artist." Art Renewal Center, Web. <http://hoocher.com/Thomas_Cole/Thomas_Cole.htm>. • "The Hudson River School-A taste for the Landscape." Theartwolf.com, Web. <http://www.theartwolf.com/hudson_river_school.htm>. • "Manifest Destiny." Ideas and Movements ca 1840's. Web. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h337.html>.

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