Steamwheeler on the Upper Mississippi 1865

Ferdinand Richardt’s “Steamwheeler on the Upper Mississippi” presents a boat rendered in oil paint, likely dating to the latter half of the 19th century. While the subject of this painting is a steam boat in nature, the smooth and polished application of paint belies the complex labor system required for the pictured subject matter. The steamboat itself was a product of burgeoning industrialization, which created new class divisions and demands on workers. The painting shows a romantic view of steamboats and nature, but conceals the true social context of the making of steamboats, the hard labor of operating them, and their impact on the environment. The soft brushstrokes and atmospheric perspective seem to float the boat into the distance. But considering the steamboat’s physical construction, it's impossible to ignore the human labor involved in the boat's creation. So, next time you’re admiring a landscape painting, remember that the view always comes with a point of view.