Thomas Cole’s painting Landscape (Landscape with Tree Trunks), 1828.
Interpreting the Artist's Perspectives
Why did Thomas Cole include one lone Native American person pointing towards the light? What message do you think Thomas Cole is trying to convey in this piece?
Maybe he was sharing a message of despair about light leaving and a storm closing in on nature and humanity.
Or maybe he wanted to show the opposite, that people and nature despite environmental destruction and ongoing genocide, always move toward hope and light of the coming day.
Take Notes
Reflect and write a response to the following prompt. Type your thoughts in the box below. Click or tap save when you are finished.
Do you think this painting is spreading a message of hope, of despair, or some of both? Use visual evidence to support your opinion.
