Deal '64 (from Sketchbook) 1864

Thomas Hewes Hinckley made this pencil drawing, "Deal '64," in 1864. Its delicate rendering of trees on a shore evokes the American landscape tradition. But 1864 was also the fourth year of the Civil War, which is perhaps why Hinckley turned to nature. In the mid-19th century, rapid industrialization threatened the American wilderness. Artists like Hinckley responded by idealizing nature. Landscape paintings became vehicles for expressing national identity and values, particularly among the educated elite who frequented museums and galleries. Hinckley belonged to the Boston Art Club, an important place for professional artists to show and sell their work. It also promoted a conservative, upper-class vision of art. Hinckley's landscapes affirmed a particular worldview during a time of immense social upheaval. To better understand Hinckley's work, we can turn to exhibition records and period publications. These resources help us understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped art in the 19th century.