Making Harbor 1862

William Bradford made this painting of ships on the water with oil on canvas during the 19th century. Bradford was preoccupied with the representation of ships navigating icy waters. Here, we see the artist's interest in capturing the dramatic and powerful qualities of nature. Bradford was an American artist, and it's important to remember that the 19th century was a time of huge expansion for the United States, with industrial capitalism transforming both the landscape and the social order. The heroic representation of ships at sea was a popular theme for paintings at this time, as it spoke to the spirit of exploration, discovery, and commercial enterprise that captured the American imagination. Artists were keen to represent the sublime power of nature. As historians, we might look at how the artist’s work relates to the social and economic changes in his time. What kind of resources did Bradford have at his disposal, and how might his own social position have shaped the way he saw the world?