The Course of Empire: The Savage State 1834

Thomas Cole's *The Course of Empire: The Savage State* (1834) is a dramatic depiction of a primitive, pre-civilized world, part of a five-painting series that charts the rise and fall of a fictional civilization. The painting, characterized by its dark, swirling clouds, lush vegetation, and distant, imposing mountains, evokes a sense of raw, untamed nature. The foreground features figures seemingly engaging in a ritual, hinting at the beginnings of human interaction with the natural world. This painting, a testament to Cole's "Hudson River School" style, emphasizes the grandeur and power of the American landscape.