The American Renaissance

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The American Renaissance

• Artistic Expressions in Antebellum America

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Overview

• An artistic movement in America lasting from c.
  1830-1880
• Marked by an emerging fascination with the
  American wilderness
• American artists exert their independence from
  Europe and traditional artistic expressions to
  forge new styles and techniques

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The World of Letters Transcendentalism

• The truly educated person can transcend the
  physical world through spirituality and an
  awareness and appreciation of nature
• The significance of nature is highlighted
• New England-centered movement predominantly
  Massachussettes

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Transcendentalist Literature Emerson

• One of the most outspoken and influential
  transcendentalist writers was Ralph Waldo Emerson
  (1803-1882)
• Emphasized the need for American literature and
  education to be independent from European
  influence
• An strong abolitionist, much of Emerson's work
  had anti-slavery undertones
• Felt the role of government should be limited
  with more emphasis placed on the individual

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Emerson
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Transcendentalist Literature Thoreau

• Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), a contemporary
  of Emerson with much influence of his own
• Politically outspoken an ardent abolitionist
• "Civil Disobedience" is best known work insists
  individuals must act based on morality, not
  legality
• Gave many public lectures condemning slavery in
  an effort to convince both the public and
  politicians of the immorality of the institution

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Thoreau
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Transcendentalist Literature Fuller

• Margaret Fuller (1810-1850) was one of America's
  first feminists, as well as a writer, poet,
  editor and orator
• Like her contemporaries in the Transcendentalist
  movement, a strong abolitionist
• Likened the abolitionist cause to the emerging
  feminist movement
• Found the Transcendentalist movement particularly
  appealing to the feminist cause

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Fuller
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The World of Painting the Hudson River School

• The first school of American art
• Influenced by the Transcendentalist literature
  movement
• Sought a liberated and self-determining artistic
  style separate from European traditionalism
• Focused on nature known primarily for epic
  landscape paintings which depict the vast
  American wilderness

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Hudson River School Artists Cole

• Thomas Cole (1801-1848), painter and writer
• Landscape painter focusing largely on the
  contrast of nature and civilization
• Expounds in his writings the major differences
  between the European and American wildernesses,
  largely the lack of open spaces mainly
  differentiate the two
• Concerned with the rise of development

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Thomas Cole The Oxbow
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Hudson River School Artists Durand

• Asher B. Durand (1796-1886), contemporary of
  Cole's
• Landscape painter in the same vein as Cole
• Concerned with development and the risk it played
  on the virtually untouched West
• Durand's Kindred Spirits became the epic piece of
  the Hudson River School movement

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Durand Kindred Spirits