Wisconsin River, above Prairie du Soc (Original Title) 1852

Adolf Hoeffler captured this view of the Wisconsin River above Prairie du Sac in a graphite drawing. Hoeffler, born in Germany, represents the wave of European artists who came to America, drawn by its landscapes and the promise of a new life. This drawing, like many landscapes of the time, plays into the idea of the American frontier as an untouched Eden, ripe for exploration and settlement. However, this representation often glossed over the complex realities of westward expansion, including the displacement of Native American populations and the environmental impact of resource extraction. To fully understand Hoeffler's work, we can turn to sources like travel narratives, period maps, and demographic data. These resources help us to understand the social and cultural dynamics of the time, giving us insights into the artist's choices and how his work might have been received. It serves as a reminder that art is always embedded in a specific historical context.