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Georgia & Liz

The Hudson River school was one of the many schools that influenced landscape painters on the east coast of America during the 1900’s. Due to its location near the Catskill Mountains, painters such as Asher B. Durand and Thomas Cole were two of the most memorable artists of this era. The main teachings of this school were reflected in the New York wilderness as shown in many of their paintings. Further analyzing Durand and Cole’s scenic landscapes of new aspects of America reflect the land and its beauty.

Thomas Cole was a landscape painter who started painting “the fragility of American threatened by settlement and industry” (Oxford Art Online). His landscape paintings show the cycle of the seasons along with dramatic weather. His main stress was the toll that settling had on the American lands. Cole’s emotions can be seen in his paintings giving his paintings the balance of nature and emotions. Cole’s later paintings had religious meaning mainly focused on Christian subjects and this is seen in some of his landscape paintings (Picturing America). Cole incorporated religion in his landscapes by his use of light and dark and specifically in his painting Oxbow on the Connecticut River he uses Hebrew text so that “the landscape be read as a holy text that reveals the word of God” (Picturing America). Cole’s use of colors made his paintings vivid along with realistic. Because Cole felt that American land was being destroyed from the new settlements his paintings often had historical meaning as seen in his painting Oxbow on the Connecticut River (Oxford Art Online). What interested Cole the most was the Middle Ages, this interest moved Cole closer to the recent Gothic Revival in America. Cole’s contribution to American art was that he painted what other people had never seen or even knew existed. Cole incorporating his emotions in paintings can have an impact on the way they are to see the painting and its overall meaning.

Asher B Durand was one of the most memorable artists of the Hudson River School. His artistic abilities were taught to him as time progressed. He was first learned to draw, then moved onto what he is most known for, oil paints. He would portray the American people and their beautiful natural surroundings. As time went on, Durand become more inspired by a fellow artist, Thomas Cole and all of his success. This caused him to exhibit landscape paintings. Some of his most famous works such as //Morning of Life// and //Evening of life// came from his new techniques of landscape portraits. His artwork tried to capture the natural beauty of the scene. He was mostly known for drawing still wilderness scenes with stable harmony. His pieces were truly peaceful and an enjoyment for the public to look at. For this reason is one of the many that he is still talked about today. Overall, Asher’s work truly portrayed the newly discovered beauty that was America.

Oxbow on the Connecticut River

Asher Durand