Chûte de la Passaïc 1824

Charlotte Bonaparte made this print of the Passaic Falls, likely in the 1820s or 30s, using etching and aquatint. It presents a picturesque vision of American nature. Bonaparte, niece to Napoleon, had an interesting social position. While she was a member of the European aristocracy, the Bonapartes were, in some ways, outsiders. The family had risen to power through revolution and military conquest, and they were never fully accepted by the old European dynasties. This might have led Charlotte to look at the world from a unique perspective. Her choice to depict this waterfall in New Jersey speaks to the cultural fascination with the American landscape at the time, which was seen as both sublime and symbolic of new beginnings. But remember, this view of untamed nature existed alongside the realities of colonial expansion and the displacement of indigenous populations. To fully understand this image, scholars can consult letters, travelogues, and other historical documents that can shed light on the complex social and political context in which it was created. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.