The Ruby Range, Nevada 1879

Thomas Moran created this watercolor painting of the Ruby Range in Nevada at an unknown date. This work can be seen as an example of the late 19th-century American landscape painting tradition, a tradition deeply intertwined with concepts of national identity and westward expansion. Moran was part of a movement that romanticized the American West, often presenting it as an untamed, awe-inspiring wilderness. This representation served the cultural and political agenda of westward expansion, masking the displacement and violence inflicted on Native American populations. It’s important to recognize how these images, displayed in eastern museums and reproduced widely, contributed to a narrative that justified territorial expansion. To fully understand this work, it's crucial to consider the political and economic forces that shaped its creation and reception. Historical archives, government documents, and Native American oral histories can provide valuable insights into the complex relationship between art, ideology, and westward expansion.