View of Mount Suskan (from Sketchbook) 1890

Albert Bierstadt sketched 'View of Mount Suskan' with graphite on paper, likely during his travels in the American West. The image reflects the cultural fascination with the Western frontier during the 19th century. Artists like Bierstadt played a role in shaping perceptions of the landscape, often emphasizing its sublime and untouched nature. The sketches would have been made as reference material for studio paintings, fulfilling the demands of a growing art market eager to consume romanticized visions of westward expansion. However, this romanticization often obscures the realities of colonization and the displacement of indigenous populations. As historians, it is important to critically examine such images, researching the social, economic, and political contexts in which they were produced. By consulting travel accounts, period newspapers, and government documents, we can gain a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between art, ideology, and historical reality.