Hudson River School Video:
In this video, Jacob Collins, the founder of the Grand Central Academy of Art, and Linda Ferber, Vice President and senior art historian of the New-York Historical Society museum are talking about the Hudson River School. Collins summarized the whole purpose of the movement. Collins stated, "What we always sensing when we talk about these artists is their profound, avid desire to create an intellectual structure around themselves so they could know who they were in relationship to the Europeans artists and who they were in relationship to historically, you know the more colonial era that they were trying to leave behind" ("A 'Grand Tour'..."). Durand’s and the other Hudson River School artists’ legacy in the art world is creating the first American art. They are known for forming America's identity in relation to the world. Collins explained that they were revolutionary because Durand and the other artists were moving forward from the past. Durand did not model his art from the Europeans like colonial Americans would have done. Instead, he ignored the European portraiture art and painted landscape paintings. His contribution to the art world has made his legacy in American art important. Durand formed the first American art style. He distanced American artists from European artists by focusing on the land in America. In this way, Durand is known for creating national art which became America's national identity. In his paintings, Durand painted scenes of nature. He wanted viewers to be in awe with their own country and be grateful. In this way, he spurred other Hudson River School artists to appreciate nature and include nationalism in their art. His paintings inspired painters to praise their country. Therefore, Durand and the Hudson River School painters managed to create America's national identity since their art only focused on America. His art is displayed in many museums today for civilians of America to view. He was one of the first artists to break away from Europe in the art world and for this reason he is known for making the American national identity. Durand's artwork was able to preserve American nationalism and its identity because even in modern times people associate his art with America. Americans still view Durand's paintings as the national identity because his paintings represent to Americans in modern times America's independence and their success. Through his art, Durand showed how America is independent from other countries by making the first type of American art: landscape paintings. Therefore, when Americans see Durand's art in museums, they view America's national identity and their pride in independence. America was the first colony to break away from their mother country and become an independent nation. This was what Durand's paintings were depicting; Americans were breaking completely away from Britain even in art. The national identity is important in American society today because it boosts Americans' ego. Americans see that their national identity was the result of them breaking away from Great Britain. They became prideful and created a national identity because of their independence. Today, the national identity makes Americans proud of their country and some even boast that America is the best country. As a result, Americans think that they should help solve the problems of other countries because America is the best county. This has resulted in Americans getting involved in many wars like the Vietnam War or the Iraq War. The preservation of the national identity has increased American pride and caused Americans to want to fight in wars.
When four of the Hudson River School paintings were missing from the New-York Historical Society Museum, many Americans were disappointed. They went specifically to the museum to see those paintings. But, when the paintings were returned, everyone was overjoyed. Ferber was stunned by the civilians’ reaction. She told Collins, "And now they're back and the response was tremendous in...the United States and to me it kind of demonstrates the fact that this kind of imagery is still the national kind. Audiences embrace it as somehow a communal vision of that embodies certain ideals about what it is to be an American" ("A 'Grand Tour'..."). Although, the paintings were not by Durand but painted by Cole, it still portrays Durand’s legacy in America. Durand was the creator of the America's national identity; because of his revolutionary leadership through his paintings he transformed American art. He encouraged other artists to take national pride in America and paint it through his paintings. In his art, Durand integrated patriotism by associating American landscape with pride for America. This caused many artists to turn to landscape art to express the honor of being an American. Therefore, Durand created America's identity since his nationalistic art motivated other artists to show their American pride in their paintings. Even though these paintings in the New-York Historical Society was by another Hudson River School artist, Cole, it proves Durand's legacy. Durand urged artists to depict nature in their art. For this reason, all the paintings in the Hudson River School movement by Durand and other artists are part of Durand's legacy. Ferber explained that Durand’s art and any Hudson River School painters’ art is seen as a representation of America. Their art is a patriotism to Americans and symbolizes the beauty of the country. The jubilant reaction of the citizens when the paintings were returned showed this. They were extremely joyful that the paintings were back in the museum because it was a source of national pride for them. Even in modern times, these paintings are considered as the national identity. It was because of Durand's leadership, that the Hudson River School painters are associated with national pride. He was able to incorporate nationalism, resulting in a national identity. His paintings preserve the national identity in present times. The preservation of the national identity is significant because today Americans turn towards his paintings to understand what makes America different from other countries. The Hudson River School paintings show the varied landscape of America. The Hudson River School art symbolizes the different aspects of America. The national identity brings unity to America even in present time. Through the paintings, civilians understand that America is different from other countries because of its diversity in the land and people. All the immigrants and their cultures, even the land, all make up America. This makes immigrants feel at home in America and make them feel like they belong. America is a home for everyone. Although, America is diverse, Americans are all brought together through their unity.
Durand’s impact was not only on the art world. He also inspired people to preserve the land. Ferber said, "Many of the sites depicted in these paintings are indeed, national sites. They are either state parks and in some cases they are national parks" ("A 'Grand Tour'..."). Durand’s legacy in America is through the conservation of land. He painted many landscapes which promoted artists to depict nature in art. Thus, Durand and these artists were able to include nationalism in their paintings. For that reason, Americans have preserved many of the landmarks and landscapes that were in the Hudson River School paintings. Through the Hudson River School art, Americans were able to find their national identity. Durand was able to open new views in Americans' minds; he showed them that the land was a source of American pride. As a result, there are parks and national sites. People have preserved the land in order to protect the landscape and their national identity. Durand's paintings and the Hudson River School's paintings became a source of national pride to Americans and so they kept many of the sites that were painted intact. Durand’s paintings along with the other Hudson River School's artwork made Americans appreciate nature which made them create parks and national sites. These paintings made Americans realized the unique aspects of their country which set them apart from any European country. This developed into a national identity for Americans. There are state parks today because of Durand. If Durand was not a revolutionary leader and transformed American art then there would not be any state parks. His legacy lives today in the preservation of land. He brought an awareness of the beauty of land to Americans and for this reason he is known for indirectly creating national parks. Durand indirectly helped the preservation of the nation's identity. He was the reason why national parks were created to protect the land. The land was the nation's pride because Durand's art made Americans realize this. Today, America's national identity is preserved through the Hudson River School's paintings and the preservation of the land. The preservation of the national identity is important because it protects the environment since there are state parks dedicated to conserving the land which represents the nation's pride. But, it also increases American pride in their country because Americans are protecting the one aspect that sets them apart from other countries: their landscape. The national identity brings Americans together to make them realize that they need to protect their country; whether it is against enemies or even from fellow Americans who plan to destroy the land for buildings. The national identity forces Americans to realize what they value about their country and protect it. There are many state parks and national parks today because Americans know that they need to protect their land and the nation's identity. The national identity is the reason why Americans from all over the country can work well together and it is the common factor in all Americans.
When four of the Hudson River School paintings were missing from the New-York Historical Society Museum, many Americans were disappointed. They went specifically to the museum to see those paintings. But, when the paintings were returned, everyone was overjoyed. Ferber was stunned by the civilians’ reaction. She told Collins, "And now they're back and the response was tremendous in...the United States and to me it kind of demonstrates the fact that this kind of imagery is still the national kind. Audiences embrace it as somehow a communal vision of that embodies certain ideals about what it is to be an American" ("A 'Grand Tour'..."). Although, the paintings were not by Durand but painted by Cole, it still portrays Durand’s legacy in America. Durand was the creator of the America's national identity; because of his revolutionary leadership through his paintings he transformed American art. He encouraged other artists to take national pride in America and paint it through his paintings. In his art, Durand integrated patriotism by associating American landscape with pride for America. This caused many artists to turn to landscape art to express the honor of being an American. Therefore, Durand created America's identity since his nationalistic art motivated other artists to show their American pride in their paintings. Even though these paintings in the New-York Historical Society was by another Hudson River School artist, Cole, it proves Durand's legacy. Durand urged artists to depict nature in their art. For this reason, all the paintings in the Hudson River School movement by Durand and other artists are part of Durand's legacy. Ferber explained that Durand’s art and any Hudson River School painters’ art is seen as a representation of America. Their art is a patriotism to Americans and symbolizes the beauty of the country. The jubilant reaction of the citizens when the paintings were returned showed this. They were extremely joyful that the paintings were back in the museum because it was a source of national pride for them. Even in modern times, these paintings are considered as the national identity. It was because of Durand's leadership, that the Hudson River School painters are associated with national pride. He was able to incorporate nationalism, resulting in a national identity. His paintings preserve the national identity in present times. The preservation of the national identity is significant because today Americans turn towards his paintings to understand what makes America different from other countries. The Hudson River School paintings show the varied landscape of America. The Hudson River School art symbolizes the different aspects of America. The national identity brings unity to America even in present time. Through the paintings, civilians understand that America is different from other countries because of its diversity in the land and people. All the immigrants and their cultures, even the land, all make up America. This makes immigrants feel at home in America and make them feel like they belong. America is a home for everyone. Although, America is diverse, Americans are all brought together through their unity.
Durand’s impact was not only on the art world. He also inspired people to preserve the land. Ferber said, "Many of the sites depicted in these paintings are indeed, national sites. They are either state parks and in some cases they are national parks" ("A 'Grand Tour'..."). Durand’s legacy in America is through the conservation of land. He painted many landscapes which promoted artists to depict nature in art. Thus, Durand and these artists were able to include nationalism in their paintings. For that reason, Americans have preserved many of the landmarks and landscapes that were in the Hudson River School paintings. Through the Hudson River School art, Americans were able to find their national identity. Durand was able to open new views in Americans' minds; he showed them that the land was a source of American pride. As a result, there are parks and national sites. People have preserved the land in order to protect the landscape and their national identity. Durand's paintings and the Hudson River School's paintings became a source of national pride to Americans and so they kept many of the sites that were painted intact. Durand’s paintings along with the other Hudson River School's artwork made Americans appreciate nature which made them create parks and national sites. These paintings made Americans realized the unique aspects of their country which set them apart from any European country. This developed into a national identity for Americans. There are state parks today because of Durand. If Durand was not a revolutionary leader and transformed American art then there would not be any state parks. His legacy lives today in the preservation of land. He brought an awareness of the beauty of land to Americans and for this reason he is known for indirectly creating national parks. Durand indirectly helped the preservation of the nation's identity. He was the reason why national parks were created to protect the land. The land was the nation's pride because Durand's art made Americans realize this. Today, America's national identity is preserved through the Hudson River School's paintings and the preservation of the land. The preservation of the national identity is important because it protects the environment since there are state parks dedicated to conserving the land which represents the nation's pride. But, it also increases American pride in their country because Americans are protecting the one aspect that sets them apart from other countries: their landscape. The national identity brings Americans together to make them realize that they need to protect their country; whether it is against enemies or even from fellow Americans who plan to destroy the land for buildings. The national identity forces Americans to realize what they value about their country and protect it. There are many state parks and national parks today because Americans know that they need to protect their land and the nation's identity. The national identity is the reason why Americans from all over the country can work well together and it is the common factor in all Americans.
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