Study for View of the Valley of the White Mountains, New Hampashire 1857

William Hart made this oil sketch, “Study for View of the Valley of the White Mountains, New Hampshire,” in the latter half of the 19th century. Hart's work exemplifies the artistic conventions of the Hudson River School, which often depicted idealized landscapes that emphasized the harmony between nature and human presence. The White Mountains were a popular tourist destination at the time, and paintings like this one played a role in promoting the area's scenic beauty. But we shouldn't take this image as a straightforward record of fact. Rather, the placement of small cottages and grazing cattle within the vast valley suggests a deliberate construction, one that emphasizes the potential for settlement and economic development in the American landscape. Hart produced this painting during a period of rapid industrialization and westward expansion in the United States. By studying travel guides, period maps, and other documentary sources, we can better understand the complex interplay of art, commerce, and cultural values that shaped the Hudson River School and its vision of the American landscape.