Valley with River and Mountains 1843

William Sidney Mount created "Valley with River and Mountains," a pencil on paper landscape, in 1843. Mount, who spent his life in rural Long Island, often depicted everyday life, yet this landscape captures the romantic vision of the American landscape that was popular at the time. Notice how the scene is both expansive and intimate; the valley stretches out before us, yet our eyes are drawn to the small details of rural life, like the houses and fields. This tension reflects the complex relationship Americans had with their land. On the one hand, it was a source of national pride and identity, a symbol of freedom and opportunity. On the other hand, it was also a commodity to be exploited, often at the expense of marginalized communities. Mount was quoted as saying, "I love to paint what I see, not what I know." Mount's landscapes, while seemingly idyllic, invite us to reflect on the historical forces that shaped them and continue to resonate today.