Mountain of the Holy Cross 

Thomas Hill painted "Mountain of the Holy Cross," capturing the iconic Colorado peak. This work reflects the 19th-century American fascination with landscape as a symbol of national identity and divine presence. At first glance, it's a serene vista, but we have to consider the context of westward expansion and its impact on indigenous populations. The symbolic weight of the cross, a Christian symbol, imposed upon the land invites questions about whose spirituality is being centered and whose is being erased. The painting evokes the concept of Manifest Destiny, intertwining religious and nationalistic fervor with the landscape. The artistic skill in rendering light and shadow invites an emotional connection to the scene. However, the narrative of untouched wilderness obscures the complex histories and displacement enacted upon the land. Hill's painting prompts us to reflect on the intersections of faith, nature, and nationhood in the American experience, asking us to consider whose stories are visible and whose remain hidden.