Cowlitz River; Kelso, Washington (from Sketchbook) 1890

Albert Bierstadt made this pencil drawing titled 'Cowlitz River; Kelso, Washington' at an unknown date. Although appearing neutral, landscape art like this played a significant role in the social and political history of 19th-century America. As a German-American artist, Bierstadt was part of the Hudson River School movement, which emphasized the beauty and grandeur of the American landscape. But these images were not just about aesthetics. They were also powerful tools in promoting the idea of manifest destiny, the belief that American settlers were destined to expand across the continent. By depicting the West as a pristine, unspoiled wilderness, artists like Bierstadt helped to justify the displacement and dispossession of Indigenous peoples. The 'Cowlitz River' drawing, although a simple sketch, is tied to the institutional forces that were shaping American identity. It shows how art can both reflect and reinforce dominant social narratives. To understand the image more fully, one might consult historical maps, travel narratives, and government documents from the period.