Study for The Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey 1846

Thomas Cole's 1846 *Study for The Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey* depicts a lone figure, possibly a pilgrim, standing on a rocky outcropping. He gazes out toward a blindingly bright light emanating from an unseen source in the distance. The light is accompanied by a swirling, white mist, and a sense of ascension and hope permeates the scene. Cole, known for his Hudson River School landscape paintings, emphasizes the power of nature and the spiritual journey through this evocative study, highlighting the relationship between human experience and the sublime. The painting is housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC.