Art and Nature: The Hudson River School

1
Art and Nature The Hudson River School
2
Beginning with Thomas Cole in 1825 and ending by
the late 1870s, the Hudson River School was known
for its dramatic depictions of nature and
subjects ranging from sublime views of the
wilderness to pastoral scenes and allegorical
pictures with moral messages.
At the height of the movement in the 1840s, these
paintings were meant to celebrate the presence of
God in nature.
3
By the end of the nineteenth century, interest in
the Hudson River School declined, and the new
paintings were considered old-fashioned.
However, after World War I, there was a renewal
of interest, sparked by patriotism, and these
American landscapes were viewed as evidence of
the simplicity and independence of life in the
United States, symbolizing American strength and
individualism.
4
Following World War II, as America became the
center for modern and abstract art, the
nineteenth century landscapes again lost their
appeal. The 1960s and 1970s brought renewed
appreciation for these Hudson River School
paintings as contemporary artists and historians,
concerned for America's natural environment, saw
the paintings as reminders of a lost
pre-industrial paradise.
5

• Environmentalists used the Hudson River
  landscapes to inspire people to embrace the "back
  to the earth" movement.
• Works by the Hudson River School artists today
  are appreciated on many levels for their meanings
  related to American art, history, and culture.

• The use of light effects, to dramatically portray
  such elements as mist and sunsets, developed into
  a subspecialty known as Luminism.

6
Works Cited

• http//www.tfaoi.com/aa/1aa/1aa371.htm
• http//www.artcyclopedia.com/history/hudson-river-
  school.html
• http//www.artlex.com/ArtLex/h/hudsonriverschool.h
  tml
• http//dfl.highlands.com/DFL_Painters/Index.html