12 hours ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Art and the American Landscape
In 1825, painter Thomas Cole founded the Hudson River School, an artistic movement that embraced the power of nature through works that encouraged its exploration while inspiring man to both settle and preserve its stunning vistas. While centered in New York, the group's aesthetic ethos took hold well beyond the Empire State, and its impact is still felt today in art that celebrates nature and humanity's place in it. Here, a dozen essays reflect on this enduring legacy while highlighting the singular genius of the men and women who have endeavored to capture nature's majesty.
It is clear the work of such established artists as Worthington Whittredge and William Louis Sonntag shaped Duncanson's maturing career. He also could have seen examples by other Hudson River School figures on view at local Art Union exhibitions. In particular, he admired the landscapes of Thomas Cole, recently deceased and celebrated as the most influential artist of the day. With 'Blue Hole,' Duncanson demonstrated a new level of mastery in absorbing Cole's framework for composing landscape subjects.
