Summary:
Between 1801 to 1848 America was starting to settle their new land in the West. In Thomas Cole's painting, Indians Viewing Landscape, it shows how much the land and nature mean to the natives while the white settlers only see it as a way to make money. The white settlers eventually push the natives off their own land to claim it for themselves, and move the Indians to reserves. In the painting, the Native American family is peacefully enjoying the view and soaking in the beauty of the nature before industrialization and new settlers invade the West. The painting captures the sun set while also symbolizing the darkness coming into the lives of the natives when the white settlers come and take their land.
Connection to the literary period:
During the period of mass industrialization, America exploited the lands in the West. Blinded by greed and the hunger to grow, the American government claimed Native American lands and relocated them to reservations. Land like the area in the painting were continually overworked and polluted until it transformed into a completely different, and often barren, landscape. Thomas Cole's painting Indians Viewing Landscape, captures the beauty and elegance of nature unharmed by industry and the peaceful joy experienced by the Indians who live there. Despite all the clashes between white settlers forcing Indians to move to reservations, Cole is still able to portray a peaceful and zen picture of the West.
Analysis:
I believe Cole included only two Indians in his painting to show how truly vast the land in the West was compared to the small factories that would eventually take over. This could show Cole's support of preserving nature instead of destroying it with more of the same factories that controlled the East coast. The sun setting in the background could also symbolize the future of the Native American way of life, as they get pushed off their land and forced into the dark, isolated from the rest of the nation.
Questions:
1.Do you think the new settlers cared as much about the nature and landscape in the West as the natives?
1.The majority of white settlers moved to the West in search of personal gain and fortune. They saw the West as a way to gain money and elevate to new social classes.
2.Why do you think Cole included a Native American family and not a white family?
2.I believe he did that so the land would have its full potential to have a peaceful look before the changes brought by new settlers to the area.
3.Do you think the mountains in the background were included to show the vastness and endless land the U.S. has obtained?
3. I believe Cole added the background since at the time, American people truly believed the U.S. had an unlimited source of land.
4.Do you think there is a reason why the Native Americans are dressed in their own traditional clothing?
4.White settlers tried to justify the taking of the natives land by portraying them as savages and unworthy of owning the land.
5.Is the broken tree one of the men are sitting on symbolize anything?
5.I think the tree symbolizes the coming of destruction by eastern settlers. The mountain in front of the men is covered with green, but the tree the man is sitting on is barren and dead.
Citation:
Cole, Thomas. "Indians Viewing Landscape." WikiArt Visual Art Encyclopedia. WikiArt, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.
Between 1801 to 1848 America was starting to settle their new land in the West. In Thomas Cole's painting, Indians Viewing Landscape, it shows how much the land and nature mean to the natives while the white settlers only see it as a way to make money. The white settlers eventually push the natives off their own land to claim it for themselves, and move the Indians to reserves. In the painting, the Native American family is peacefully enjoying the view and soaking in the beauty of the nature before industrialization and new settlers invade the West. The painting captures the sun set while also symbolizing the darkness coming into the lives of the natives when the white settlers come and take their land.
Connection to the literary period:
During the period of mass industrialization, America exploited the lands in the West. Blinded by greed and the hunger to grow, the American government claimed Native American lands and relocated them to reservations. Land like the area in the painting were continually overworked and polluted until it transformed into a completely different, and often barren, landscape. Thomas Cole's painting Indians Viewing Landscape, captures the beauty and elegance of nature unharmed by industry and the peaceful joy experienced by the Indians who live there. Despite all the clashes between white settlers forcing Indians to move to reservations, Cole is still able to portray a peaceful and zen picture of the West.
Analysis:
I believe Cole included only two Indians in his painting to show how truly vast the land in the West was compared to the small factories that would eventually take over. This could show Cole's support of preserving nature instead of destroying it with more of the same factories that controlled the East coast. The sun setting in the background could also symbolize the future of the Native American way of life, as they get pushed off their land and forced into the dark, isolated from the rest of the nation.
Questions:
1.Do you think the new settlers cared as much about the nature and landscape in the West as the natives?
1.The majority of white settlers moved to the West in search of personal gain and fortune. They saw the West as a way to gain money and elevate to new social classes.
2.Why do you think Cole included a Native American family and not a white family?
2.I believe he did that so the land would have its full potential to have a peaceful look before the changes brought by new settlers to the area.
3.Do you think the mountains in the background were included to show the vastness and endless land the U.S. has obtained?
3. I believe Cole added the background since at the time, American people truly believed the U.S. had an unlimited source of land.
4.Do you think there is a reason why the Native Americans are dressed in their own traditional clothing?
4.White settlers tried to justify the taking of the natives land by portraying them as savages and unworthy of owning the land.
5.Is the broken tree one of the men are sitting on symbolize anything?
5.I think the tree symbolizes the coming of destruction by eastern settlers. The mountain in front of the men is covered with green, but the tree the man is sitting on is barren and dead.
Citation:
Cole, Thomas. "Indians Viewing Landscape." WikiArt Visual Art Encyclopedia. WikiArt, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2015.