Park at Vancouver c. 1889

Albert Bierstadt painted ‘Park at Vancouver’ during a period when the American West was being romanticized and aggressively ‘settled’. Bierstadt, associated with the Hudson River School, often depicted grandiose landscapes, emphasizing the sublime and untouched nature of the American frontier. Yet, this representation conveniently erased the Indigenous presence and justified colonial expansion. The painting evokes a sense of awe and tranquility, inviting viewers to revel in the beauty of the landscape. However, it’s crucial to remember that this ‘park’ was, and still is, the unceded territory of Indigenous peoples, who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Bierstadt’s vision, while technically impressive, perpetuates a narrative of discovery and ownership that disregards the complex histories and identities of the original inhabitants. It invites reflection on how landscape art can both celebrate and obscure the truths of our shared history.