The Voyage of Life: Childhood (detail) 1840

This detail from Thomas Cole’s 1840 painting "The Voyage of Life: Childhood" depicts a lush, idyllic landscape, symbolizing the innocence and beauty of youth. The vibrant foliage and gentle stream represent the child's journey through life, while the distant, hazy mountains suggest the unknown future. Cole's work is a quintessential example of the Hudson River School, a movement of American landscape painters who emphasized the grandeur and romanticism of nature. "The Voyage of Life" is a series of four paintings, with each panel representing a different stage of life: childhood, youth, manhood, and old age.