Work in Progress: Art

 

 Original Piece: Eagle Cliff, Franconia Notch, New Hampshire by Jasper Francis Cropsey






This picture is a perfect example of the romantic movement is possibly the most well known piece from this age. It contains most of the characteristics that was generally depicted from this era such a homesteading, expansionism, dark vs light and settlement. This shows a more of the westward expansion whereas in the piece that I chose it shows more of the expansion northwards.



This piece shows two explorers discussing and searching for a place to settle or another route to take. It also shows the romanticist side of the Hudson River school which is realistic landscape in the portrait. The mountainous terrain also corresponds with the piece that I chose by showing northward expansion.



This picture just shows an ordinary cabin that was most likely used in some sort of homestead fashion. Homesteading consisted of living off the land, without neighbors and without help. Homesteading became important from around 1800 to the 1850’s because the U.S. government sold land very cheaply or gave it to people for free in order to to encourage expansionism.




This as a modern view off the top of Eagle Cliff in New Hampshire. This can be related back to my piece as this is an exact location of what Cropsey was portraying. This links back to the romantic movement because of the realistic ideals within the pieces of work.




This map shows the number of people per square mile in the U.S. in 1860 with red being 90 or more and green being fewer than 2. Manifest Destiny was at its peak during this team with the U.S. government highly encouraging expansion. As you can see some of New Hampshire is densely populated but farther north it isn't at all and this is map describing a later time than when my piece was painted.