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.
