Changing West 1931

"Changing West" (1931) by Thomas Hart Benton is a mural-style painting that depicts the rapid modernization and industrialization of the American West. Benton, known for his regionalist style, captures the energy and change of the era through a dynamic composition that incorporates figures working on oil rigs, pipelines, and other industrial structures. The piece highlights the transition from rural, agrarian life to a more urban, mechanized future. The use of bold colors and simplified forms further emphasizes the monumental scale of these changes. This work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Benton's keen observation of American life in the early 20th century.