Grand Canyon of the Colorado River 

Thomas Moran created this landscape painting of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in the United States in the late 19th century. The monumental scale and sublime atmosphere of the painting speak to the 19th century concept of Manifest Destiny, the idea that the United States was destined to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. Moran's romantic rendering of the American West contributed to the mythologizing of the landscape. It bolstered national pride and encouraged westward expansion, while simultaneously obscuring the violent displacement and cultural erasure of Native American populations. This image of the Grand Canyon is as much a product of institutional forces and political ideologies as it is the artistic vision of Moran. To understand it fully, we need to look at historical documents, cultural studies, and postcolonial theory to understand the art’s role in shaping the narrative of American expansionism.