Cresheim Glen, Wissahickon, Autumn 1864

Thomas Moran painted this autumnal scene of Cresheim Glen in the Wissahickon Valley. This kind of landscape painting rose to prominence in the United States during the 19th century. Here, Moran captures the vivid colors and serene atmosphere of the American landscape. But landscape painting was never only about scenery. In the 1800s, the artistic portrayal of the land was entwined with ideas of national identity, expansion, and the relationship between humanity and nature. Manifest Destiny, the idea that American settlers were destined to expand across the continent, fueled westward expansion and shaped the perception of the land as a resource to be conquered. In contrast, artists like Moran, influenced by the Transcendentalist movement, presented nature as a source of spiritual renewal and national pride. Understanding the complex cultural context in which it was made invites us to consider how it reflects and shapes social values.