Valley of Cuernavaca 

Thomas Moran made this painting, Valley of Cuernavaca. It’s a landscape painting that reflects a very particular moment in the intertwined histories of the United States and Mexico. Moran’s work captures the aesthetics of the American West. His landscapes are often tied to the concept of Manifest Destiny, a belief that the United States was destined to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. Looking at this painting, one might see a serene landscape, but it also symbolizes a more complicated history of territorial expansion and cultural exchange—a history laden with issues of race, power, and identity. The artist renders the scene with a romantic glow, inviting viewers to contemplate the implications of such idealized visions on real human lives and experiences. By emphasizing the sublime and the picturesque, Moran encourages viewers to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of landscape and its connection to national identity and cultural values.