Bow River Gap at Banff, on Canadian Pacific Railroad 

Thomas Hill made this painting, *Bow River Gap at Banff, on Canadian Pacific Railroad*, in the late 19th century. It depicts a scene in the Canadian Rockies, a region that was becoming increasingly accessible due to the expansion of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Hill’s painting captures the sublime grandeur of the landscape. But we might also see it as a statement about the railroad's role in transforming the Canadian West, opening it up to tourism and resource extraction. The tiny figures on the riverbank underscore the vast scale of the landscape, but also perhaps, humanity's growing impact on it. The railroad itself, though not visible, is a crucial element, shaping how viewers would have encountered this vista. To truly understand this work, we can look to historical sources, like railroad company records, travel guides, and period accounts of the region. These can tell us more about the social and economic forces that shaped both the landscape and its representation in art. By situating Hill's painting in its historical context, we can better appreciate its complex relationship to progress, nature, and the changing face of the Canadian West.