Albert Bierstadt’s “Rocky Mountain Landscape”: Transcendentalism Artwork Essay

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Introduction

Romanticism is one of the most famous periods of the development of art and the formation of new views about the world. Hence, of particular importance to him is the formation of Transcendental thoughts and beliefs, which also influenced and were reflected in the works of many artists of that time. As part of this work, Albert Bierstadt’s work titled “Rocky Mountain Landscape” will be studied, which reflects the belief of Transcendentalism that humanity, nature, and God are all interconnected.

Discussion

First of all, it is necessary to understand what the era of Romanticism is and what influence Transcendental thoughts and beliefs had on it. Thus, Romanticism flourished from the end of the eighteenth to the middle of the nineteenth century and had several unique characteristics. Further, it focused on ordinary people, their emotions, experiences, and difficulties that they faced. Moreover, Romanticism especially focuses on the importance of imagination and how people can interpret what is happening around them.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, with the advent of Transcendentalism, there were some changes in this era. Transcendentalism brought a worldview that implied individuals’ innate kindness and goodness and their independence from society (The First Amendment Encyclopedia). Research stated that “the Transcendentalists believed there is a divine spirit in nature and in every living soul. Through individualism and self-reliance, human beings could reunite with God” (The First Amendment Encyclopedia para. 3). These innovations contributed to the merging of these movements, which resulted in fascinating artworks.

One of the examples of works that were created under the influence of Romanticism and Transcendentalism is the work of Albert Bierstadt under the name “Rocky Mountain Landscape.” This artist represented the Hudson River Painters, who actively supported Transcendental thoughts and beliefs. In his painting, the artist, at first glance, depicts a landscape of a river with mountains. However, with a close examination, it can be noted that he “depicts the sun’s rays breaking through the clouds, suggesting a heavenly construct to nature” (Google Arts & Culture para. 5). A special contrast in the artist’s work was created using the image of the main rather dark scene, bright and bright sky, and water, which seemed to be enhanced and brought life to the work. This technique was a characteristic feature of Bierstadt, and he used it in almost all his works.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be said that Albert Bierstadt, in his artwork, followed the idea that humanity, nature, and God are all interconnected, which was one of the core ideas of Transcendentalism. The uniqueness of the artist’s excellent works was that he did not directly depict the concepts mentioned but used the image of nature and light to convey spirituality and people’s connection with higher forces. Viewers become direct participants in the landscape depicted by Bierstadt. They feel peace and unity with nature, which fills the soul with peace, almost as faith does. It is these features that contribute to the confirmation that the artist’s work follows one of the core values of Transcendentalism.

Works Cited

“Analysis of Romanticism.” Google Arts & Culture, Web.

Haydel, Judith. “.” The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Web.

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"Albert Bierstadt's "Rocky Mountain Landscape": Transcendentalism Artwork." IvyPanda, 3 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/albert-bierstadts-rocky-mountain-landscape-transcendentalism-artwork/.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'Albert Bierstadt's "Rocky Mountain Landscape": Transcendentalism Artwork'. 3 January.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Albert Bierstadt's "Rocky Mountain Landscape": Transcendentalism Artwork." January 3, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/albert-bierstadts-rocky-mountain-landscape-transcendentalism-artwork/.

1. IvyPanda. "Albert Bierstadt's "Rocky Mountain Landscape": Transcendentalism Artwork." January 3, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/albert-bierstadts-rocky-mountain-landscape-transcendentalism-artwork/.


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IvyPanda. "Albert Bierstadt's "Rocky Mountain Landscape": Transcendentalism Artwork." January 3, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/albert-bierstadts-rocky-mountain-landscape-transcendentalism-artwork/.

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