Study of Nature, Dresden, Lake George 1870

David Johnson made this painting of Lake George, possibly in the late 19th century, with oil on canvas. This landscape captures the visual codes of the Hudson River School, a mid-19th century American art movement. Here, we see the sublime power of nature, from the distant, blueish mountains to the clear, still water of the lake. The small figure on the beach is dwarfed by the scene. This was a time of rapid industrialization in the United States, and the Hudson River School offered an alternative vision of the nation as a kind of unspoiled Eden. The paintings were very popular, and they were supported by institutions such as the National Academy of Design. Historians can look at exhibition records, sales figures, and publications to understand how these artists and institutions promoted a particular vision of American identity. Johnson's painting thus reminds us that landscape art is never just about scenery. It is always shaped by social and institutional forces.