High Peak 1851

Editor: This delicate pencil sketch, "High Peak," by Sanford Robinson Gifford, feels like a whisper of a landscape. What do you see in this quiet scene? Curator: It's a glimpse into how the 19th-century American landscape was being framed. Consider the concept of Manifest Destiny: did artists like Gifford contribute to the romanticized vision that justified westward expansion and its impact on Indigenous populations? Editor: That's a really important question! I hadn’t thought about how landscape art can be political. Curator: Absolutely. Gifford's serene style might obscure the realities of that period. Thinking critically about whose perspective is represented, and whose is missing, can reshape our understanding. Editor: I'll definitely look at landscape art differently from now on. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. It's about engaging with art as a reflection of its time, and our own.