Painting Nature example essay topic

... gree, over sea, land, and the animal kingdom" (qt d. in Parry 156). In his second canvas, "The Pastoral State", the area is relatively the same, but the perspective of the painting has slightly changed. Unlike the first stage with its broken trees, this stage is tamed and shows order. There are beautiful green grass fields in the scene, which may show that man has tamed the area in an attempt to ready it for colonization. This painting depicts several people hurried and busy, going about their daily lives and then some simply relaxing the day away. For example, shepherds can be seen as well as thinkers, imperial soldiers, and women working on chores at the stream with their children.

The animals are being used for agriculture work and some are grazing. More houses and different building styles can be seen now in contrast to the first stage painting. In this painting, the mood appears to be calm and man appears to be enjoying himself. Overall, this image represents a state in which man has changed nature to suit himself by taming the ones that are barbaric and being more civilized about the essential quality of nature. The third painting in this succession, "The Consummation of Empire" depicts great advances in mankind than those of the first two.

Roads and other structures have been erected. The water is calm, there are a few clouds, and two columns can be seen marking the entrance to the bay. Considerably more people are present in this setting than depicted in the previous stages. There are apparent crowds of people about luxurious walkways, boats, and in buildings well. The environment in this painting conveys humans as being prosperous and abundant. And by dominating nature by manipulating the natural world to fit their needs.

The fourth part of the series, "Destruction" portrays a number of warriors attacking the community rendering massacre and destruction. Fighting is relevant everywhere while the dead and the dying lay about the walkways and buildings. The beautiful and stately columns depicted in the third stage have now been damaged as well as some houses. The sea is no longer calm and the clouds appear smoky and thick. The main purpose of this canvas is to indicate that human empires will not last, and at some point face destruction, whether self-inflicted or naturally.

The final part of this painting, "Desolation" is noticeably unlike its predecessors and takes place at night. It denotes calmness with the glistening of the moon reflecting in the bay and a few clouds strung abroad the night sky. Humans are no longer present but evidence of their in habitation remains. Broken pillars and ruined structure line the coast with the overgrowth of mosses and plants. The area is quite wild due to the awkward overtaking of the native plant life. The mountain still stands in its place, but alone without the human presence.

The sea shines with peacefulness and on the far side two deer can be seen enjoying a drink of water. The point of this portrait is to acknowledge the ultimate reclamation of nature and its supreme power over man. The deer have returned and so have the plants and trees. The marks and scars left by man have become part of its natural surroundings.

Cole held many views about nature, human life and mortality. He believed that the nation bestowed a wild beauty. Cole explained in one of his articles, "To walk with nature as a poet is the necessary condition of a perfect artist". He illustrated the American landscape with a new vision, but at the same time he did remembered to paint pictures that portrayed allegorical and religious subject matter. He believed those as men live and die as do plants and animals.

Cole used eroded mountains and dried up riverbeds to symbolize the cycles of nature and its co-relation to man. Meaning, naturally man dies as he ages and nature also looses its agility. Sometimes his pieces would represent; as the early settlement of America passes by, a new one takes its place. The America that he portrays is competitive; abundant with resources and a society ranked by class.

Cole enjoyed painting nature and he used nature in comparison to life. Another of his finest achievements would be "The Oxbow". Completed in 1836, the sketches for this painting were completed at a real place, the Connecticut River Valley. On the left we find the wilderness of the mountain. Dead trees and living trees symbolize the cycle of nature.

From a distance one can see the river's peaceful bend, a golden light coming from the left, a storm spotted from far, and some trees blasting out on the near side. This picture is painted as if the audience is taken into the moment. In the center of the painting, we see the artist sitting and painting the scene with his painting kit. The artist cannot be seen at a first glimpse because he is extremely small in the picture.

He gives the audience a look at the future possibilities if they look into the distance. The fading storm reveals that nature will eventually be replaced by civilization. This scenery is beautifully amassed with its bright colors and amazing developed features. Thomas Cole did an excellent job in portraying realism in his paintings. He helped America vision a society with possibilities, opportunities, and abundance of resources. Not only did Cole inspire the nation; he also influenced many artists who are now heading Cole's way.

Cole was a brilliant man of great intelligence who stole the hearts of many. In an article written by William Church Bryant, Bryant explains, "We might dream in his funeral oration on Cole, that the conscious valleys miss his accustomed visits and that autumnal glories of the woods are paler because of his departure". Cole died on February 11, 1848 due to an illness and was remembered by many whom he helped to see the true vision of America. Bibliography

Bibliography

Harvey, Eleanor Jones. The Painted Sketch: American Impressions From Nature 1830-1880.
Dallas: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1998.
Lucie-Smith, Edward. American Realism. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994.
Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. Rev. ed. Vol. 2. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.
973-974. Yager, Bert D. The Hudson River School: American Landscape Artists. New York: Smith mark Publishers, 1996.