Poppies, Antelope Valley 

Benjamin Brown painted ‘Poppies, Antelope Valley’ in California, most likely in the early twentieth century. The image fits into the turn-of-the-century California school of landscape painting, influenced by French Impressionism, which represented the state as an unspoiled Eden. But we should remember that it was a myth: this was a period of intensive agricultural development in California, enabled by railroads and irrigation, and driven by the displacement of indigenous populations. The poppy itself was made the official state flower in 1903, signifying a romanticized view of the landscape that didn't quite match reality. As historians, it’s our job to unpack the cultural and institutional forces that shape the production and reception of such images. We must look at travel accounts, horticultural records, and government documents to understand the power of art to challenge or reinforce existing social norms.