Valley of Aosta; Snowstorm, Avalanche, and Thunderstorm 1836 - 1837

J.M.W. Turner, a Romantic painter, created this dramatic landscape, Valley of Aosta; Snowstorm, Avalanche, and Thunderstorm, during a time of significant social and environmental change. Turner was an active abolitionist at a time when there was ongoing debate about slavery in British society. In this painting, nature is an overwhelming, powerful force. The tiny figures in the foreground suggest an indifference to human affairs. Turner seems to question humanity's place in the natural order, a period of significant upheaval and social re-evaluation. Turner's approach resonates with abolitionist sentiments by challenging existing hierarchies. The avalanche and storm seem to wipe everything out. As you look at this image, consider the political and social tumult that informed Turner's work, and how his art captured the intersection of human vulnerability and the sublime power of nature.