Lake or River Bank Bordered by Trees (from Sketchbook) 1857 - 1867

Thomas Hewes Hinckley created this pencil drawing, called "Lake or River Bank Bordered by Trees," as part of a sketchbook. We don't know exactly when, but it was probably sometime in the mid-19th century. Hinckley's sketch gives us a glimpse into the artistic practices of his time. In the 1800s, American artists were increasingly interested in capturing the natural beauty of the American landscape. Sketchbooks like Hinckley's were essential tools for these artists, allowing them to record their observations and develop ideas for larger paintings. Thinkers of the time, like Emerson and Thoreau, had encouraged people to find God through nature. But as more and more people traveled and settled in the West, there were growing concerns about how industrialization might damage the natural world. Looking at the image with these ideas in mind helps us to understand its significance as a cultural document. Art historians rely on sketchbooks like these to understand artists' processes, and to think about the changing attitudes toward nature in the 19th century.