History Questions: White Mountains and Thomas Cole

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course             
Date of Submission
History Questions
White Mountains and Thomas Cole
The landscape from the painting shows scarring of the environment. The man-made stumps indicate that the landscape is no longer in its original form but getting damaged. The stubbled field shows signs of being encroached as evident from the presence of the path. The remains show a mark of human progress because people are responsible for cutting trees and developing paths that humans can use. This means humans are destroying nature as they develop and progress. The presence of the man on the horse represents the presence of increasing traffic in the area in regards to human encroachment and development within the area.
Cole uses a worried tone when using terms such as “improvements” and “civilization” within the essay. Cole claims that in the essence of “…improvement, in its march, makes us fear that the bright and tender flowers of the imagination will be crushed beneath its iron tramp…” to show that increasing civilization may be lead to the destruction of nature. He is worried that the concept of civilization is fast approaching with little regard for nature. Cole believes that the taste of imagination will ultimately win against modern improvements. This is because he claims that people will recognize the richness that nature provides and so when people stop being ignorance they will gain this self-awareness.
North American Indians (1842)
The Indians were the tools, as well as the models for Catlin’s artistic quest because they had not been corrupted by civilization. They did not know anything about civilization and so they represented something unique and original. Catlin’s purpose in portraying these “last” Indians was to preserve their heritage and culture. He knew that through civilization, they would be swept away and so he wanted something that would remain as a reminder about these Indians. He also wanted to represent them because he show the beauty in their culture and traditions.
            By representing the visual and written portrait of Wi-jun-jon, Catlin hoped to show the contrast between the European and native Indian perceptions of things. He hoped to portray the differences in understanding of life that the Europeans had a...