Stream in Forest Winter 

Thomas Hill created "Stream in Forest Winter" with oil paints to capture a serene landscape. Born in England and later immigrating to the United States, Hill lived during a time of significant westward expansion. His artistic career was deeply embedded in the cultural narrative of manifest destiny and the romanticization of the American landscape. However, it is important to consider how these landscapes often overlook the displacement and erasure of Indigenous peoples. There's a palpable longing for an untouched wilderness in this scene, a common theme among many landscape painters of his era. The way the light filters through the trees, creating a sense of peace, also evokes the emotional and spiritual connections people feel when immersed in nature. Through this painting, we're invited to reflect on our relationship with nature. It is an invitation to consider the narratives we construct about land, identity, and belonging.