Coconino Pines and Cliff Arizona 

"Coconino Pines and Cliff Arizona" is a landscape painting by Thomas Moran, a key figure in the Hudson River School movement. Moran romanticizes the American West, depicting a harmonious vision of nature. However, this idealized view overlooks the displacement and marginalization of Native American populations that coincided with westward expansion. While Moran's landscapes celebrate the sublime beauty of the wilderness, they also contribute to a narrative that justified colonial expansion and erased the presence and history of indigenous peoples. The emotional appeal of Moran's landscapes lies in their ability to evoke a sense of awe and wonder, fostering a desire to preserve these natural spaces. Yet, this sentiment is complicated by the historical context in which these paintings were made, as they both celebrate and obscure the complex realities of the American West.