Among the Sierra Nevada, California by Grayson Rogers
Among the Sierra Nevada, California Albert Bierstadt 1868,
Portfolio 8- Romanticism as Seen in Among the Sierra Nevada, California
Through the piece, Among the Sierra Nevada, California, by Albert Bierstadt, the three main themes of romanticism are illustrated beautifully. The piece emphasizes the beauty of all nature, the quality of individualism in art, and emotion the piece makes the viewer feel helps to portray the tranquility and serenity of the scene.
One of the most important qualities in the idea of romanticism is the use of nature, and just by looking at this piece, the viewer gets to experience the plethora of amazing qualities’ nature brings to the world. For example, the glistening lake, the greenery of the trees and grass, the massive rocks, and the beautiful sky, are a few of the standouts in this piece. The enormous rocks and mountains surrounding the lake show the control nature has over everything, and the lake shows just how pretty nature can be. These two examples in particular show the importance of nature to this piece, as different aspects of it take up much of the work.
Continuing with the main qualities of romanticism, individualism is portrayed in this piece very clearly. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the group of deer standing on the shore of the lake. This represents individualism because the deer are some of the only living things in this piece. Not only that, but the deer are also located front and center, showing their importance to the scene.
The third and final quality of romanticism that we have studied, emotion, is portrayed in this piece through many ways. For one, the chilled look on the lake helps to convey the serene mood this piece has. Continually, the lack of objects on the main parts of nature, such as the lake, help illustrate the intricate details the portray the calming environment this piece is set in.
Another example of this is the shining, luminous sky, which shines a warming glow onto the environment below. This piece also draws out the emotion of awe in the viewer, as the mere size of the mountains are quite the sight to look at.
All in all, the piece Among the Sierra Nevada, California is a prime example of the three main qualities of romanticism we have studied- nature, individualism, and emotion. Through many examples of each, the piece gives details, images, and ideas that help convey different emotions and different interpretations of the scene to each individual viewer.
Among the Sierra Nevada, California by Kiley McKenna
Among the Sierra Nevada, California is a beautiful product of the Romantic Era influence. The Romantic Era was an artistic, literary, and intellectual time period in the early 1800s after the industrial revolution. Citizens finally had enough time to stop worrying about war and dedicate time to art. With new ideas overflowing in the United States, the Romantic Era thus became an emotional nationalism deeply tied to the United States.
Albert Bierstadt was a German artist enthralled by the Romantic Era of the United States. His art was profoundly viewed all over Europe. While traveling through the United States he would paint beautiful landscapes that would fuel European’s interest in emigration. Bierstadt created beautiful mountains being hit by the light just right to show the heavenly glow of the United States. The rushing waterfall just between the mountains symbolize hope and freedom, two of the most known attributes of America. The dark haze that floats around the edge of the painting shows there is still more to discover and claim for your own in this beautiful promise land. The lake represents the calm serenity while the deer and ducks show the liveliness and fruitfulness of the land. Lastly, the towering trees that hang over the lake show the bountiful land and abundance of resources. As the mountain fades into the clouds, it encourages Europeans to start exploring to this beautiful, mysterious land. The painting connects to the Idea of Americanism to the more natural, emotional element. This artwork creates a sense of heavenly divinity while displaying the opportunity for land, resources, and many other attractive attributes. He still manages to attain that kind of fear and lust while creating a desirable and irresistible landscape. Bierstadt goes on to paint many more artworks, just like this one, that create the popular demand that is America.
Thomas Cole – The Voyage of Life: Youth
The Voyage of Life: Youth by Ellie Jarrell
The image called The Voyage of Life: Youth encapsulates a plentiful number of colors yet lots of plainness, light and darkness, and discovery yet fear of the unknown. Looking at the image, one can infer that discovery is the main idea, for there is a man on a boat being pointed in the direction of the unknown.
The emotion that spreads throughout the picture is the excitement or fear of the unknown. The dark fading color with a glowing feel helps to express the unknown and it is colorless to portray the idea that it has not been explored yet. This causes multiple emotions because it creates a new feeling knowing that you will be discovering something new. In the image, the man venturing most likely feels excitement towards it because the unknown could be a new chance for him and his possible family or friends. Most people felt this way when leaving their controlling country. Although there may be joy and excitement, there is also a sense of fear. The image’s faint glow also portrays that it is a very large area that is mysterious. This creates the emotion of fear because the venturing people have no idea what they will be going into. Because the image gives that idea of mystery it could still be dark (bad) or bright and colorful (a new chance).
Individualism is also present in this image, for there are only three people alone, by themselves. There is an angel by herself on the land pointing in the direction of the dark, faded unknown, while there is also another angel on the front of the man’s boat also pointing. This man is portraying individualism because he is the only man on the boat, and he will soon be by himself as he continues his voyage. Because the angel is on land by herself it may lead the viewer to assume that that angel will stay there and point him the way. Individualism is also present in the way that the man is using his control of himself and power to go on this voyage on the water with a small boat.
The image contrasts itself in multiple different ways, such as the dark and light, color and fade, and the idea of the unknown yet discovery, but also has other details that lead a viewer to believe there is a sense of religion. In the image, the color the man is wearing is red which could represent the devil and the white where the angels are helping him find God.
The nature in the image consists of a warmer feel with the reds and oranges. The warm feel of these colors represent optimism which plays along well with the idea of new discovery. The river that the man is on seems to be a greener color than blue and the light is hitting the water. The light is hitting where the man is about to go which portrays that he will be okay. The green color of the water also represents luck and that he will go into the mysterious unknown but end up having a better life. The trees lining the river represents the beauty of the new land that he will discover.
In conclusion, the nature and its colors, the emotion, and the individualism throughout the image all help support the idea of discovery and new life. The image contrast itself multiple times because the image is giving two perspectives and lets the viewer choose how they will depict the image and see the emotion. Overall, the image encapsulates the unknown and discovery through three main ideas of nature, emotion, and individualism.
