The Ambush 1876

Albert Bierstadt’s painting, "The Ambush" depicts a covered wagon racing along a dirt path, pursued by Indigenous people on horseback. Painted during the height of westward expansion in the United States, Bierstadt's work can be understood as a commentary on the conflicts arising from this period. While the painting showcases Bierstadt’s skill in capturing the drama and intensity of the scene, it also reveals the prevailing attitudes of the time towards Native Americans. During this period, it was common to depict indigenous people as a savage threat, in popular literature, political rhetoric, and art. These attitudes further influenced national policy. Art history gives us the tools to examine such images within their specific social and institutional contexts, through consulting period documents and writings. In doing so we can better understand the role that painting played in shaping public opinion about westward expansion and the displacement of Native Americans.