Waterfall, Cumberland Mountains 1880

Carl C. Brenner made this print of a Cumberland Mountains waterfall sometime in the 19th century. Brenner, born in Germany, immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Kentucky. There, he became known for his landscape paintings, often depicting the natural beauty of the Appalachian region. This print reflects the romanticism movement, where nature is seen as sublime and unspoiled. The presence of the two figures at the bottom of the image reminds us of the human scale when faced with the vastness of nature. But consider also what is not depicted here. During this period the Cumberland Mountains, like much of the American landscape, were undergoing significant transformation due to industrialization and resource extraction, often at the expense of indigenous populations and enslaved African Americans. Brenner’s landscapes, while beautiful, do not fully engage with these complexities, offering a perspective that focuses on the aesthetic experience, but not the deeper historical and social realities.