North Fork of the Platte Nebraska 1863

Albert Bierstadt painted North Fork of the Platte Nebraska with oil on canvas sometime in the 19th century. It's an idealized view of the American West, a landscape that was both being mythologized and rapidly transformed by westward expansion. Bierstadt’s composition follows a formula popular at the time. Towering landforms frame a central vista, guiding the viewer’s eye deep into the landscape. This approach was celebrated by institutions and art critics on the East coast. It's as if the very scale of the paintings was meant to evoke a sense of national destiny. But it’s essential to remember that the myth of the "Wild West" was constructed at the expense of indigenous peoples whose land was being taken. Art historians now have access to a wide range of resources to help us understand the impact of these narratives, including the voices of those who were marginalized. The history of art can help us better understand the politics of imagery.