Mount Hood and the Valley of the Willamette 

Childe Hassam captured this view of Mount Hood and the Willamette Valley in a painting that reflects the shifting American landscape at the turn of the century. As cities expanded, the concept of the frontier evolved, influencing how artists depicted the relationship between nature and civilization. Hassam, an American Impressionist, often focused on urban scenes, yet here, he turns his gaze to the West. But let’s consider what this landscape meant to the indigenous communities, who have stewarded this land for centuries. The Willamette Valley was home to many tribes, whose lives and cultures were deeply connected to the land. With the arrival of European settlers, treaties were made and broken, resulting in displacement, loss of cultural identity, and profound historical trauma. Hassam’s painting, with its soft light, might evoke a sense of peace, but it also presents a perspective that overlooks this complex history. It reminds us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out in the visual narratives of our shared spaces. It prompts reflection on how we represent the relationship between land, identity, and history in art.