Mountains (from Sketchbook X) 1885

William Trost Richards created "Mountains" as part of his Sketchbook X, leaving us with a delicate echo of nature's grandeur. Richards, living through the Industrial Revolution, often turned to landscape painting, perhaps seeking refuge from the rapid societal changes. This sketch, though minimal, speaks volumes about the cultural moment it inhabits. During the 19th century, there was a growing interest in the American landscape, fueled by ideas of expansion and manifest destiny. Yet, within this enthusiasm was also a tension—a romantic idealization of nature clashing with the realities of environmental exploitation and the displacement of indigenous peoples. Richards’ quiet mountains invite contemplation. The sketch serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, then and now. It’s in these quiet works that we find the seeds of deeper questions about who we are and the marks we leave behind.