Lectures in History 19th Century American Landscape Painting
Mar 29, 2025
Andrea Pappas, an art history professor at Santa Clara University, dives into the rich world of 19th-century American landscape painting, particularly the Hudson River School. She explores how artists like Thomas Cole depicted nature as a sacred space and its role in shaping national identity. Pappas critiques the romanticized portrayals of Native Americans and discusses the evolution from idyllic pastoral scenes to industrial influences in art. This conversation reveals the complex narratives around civilization, nature, and humanity's moral responsibilities.
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Wilderness and National Identity
- Cole's painting The Cutterskill Falls depicts a Native American figure, even though indigenous people were largely gone from the area.
- This highlights the complex relationship between land ownership, wilderness, and national identity in 19th-century America.
Defining Wilderness
- The concept of "wilderness" often ignores indigenous land management practices like controlled burns and horticulture.
- European settlers' views on land use differed greatly, impacting land ownership.
Constructing Wilderness
- Cole's painting portrays the Cutterskill Falls as pristine wilderness, omitting tourist infrastructure present at the time.
- Winslow Homer's later painting of the same location reveals the area's popularity as a tourist destination.