View on the Hudson in Autumn 1850

Thomas Doughty made this oil on canvas painting titled, "View on the Hudson in Autumn," in the United States, though the exact date is unknown. As you can see, it presents a serene landscape with a scene of leisure. In the early to mid-19th century, the Hudson River School artists sought to capture the sublime beauty of the American landscape and this painting is no exception. They were part of a broader cultural project of defining a national identity, promoting the idea of America as a new Eden, a place of unspoiled wilderness and boundless opportunities. But these views often mask the realities of westward expansion, namely the displacement and violence towards indigenous populations. To truly understand this work, one must consider the economic and political context of the time. The rise of industrialization, urbanization, and the market revolution were rapidly transforming American society. These painters captured a longing for a simpler, more natural way of life. They sought to define a new kind of national landscape. To understand it better, look at how the National Academy of Design was formed in New York City, where Doughty exhibited. Consider their institutional mission to foster American art and create a distinct cultural identity, and the way its artists grappled with the changing social and economic landscape of the United States.