The Course of Empire–The Savage State c. 1834

Thomas Cole painted 'The Course of Empire–The Savage State' with oil on canvas. Cole, working in the 19th century, lived in a burgeoning America, one expanding westward and grappling with its identity. This painting, part of a series, speaks to the then-pervasive narrative of progress, but does so with a critical eye. Cole seems to ask, what is lost in this so-called advancement? Look at the Indigenous figures in the landscape, their lives intertwined with the natural world, a stark contrast to the industrialization Cole witnessed. He develops an alternative narrative by not romanticizing, but emphasizing their deep connection to nature. There's a tension here, isn't there? A celebration of the American landscape, but also a lament for what is being destroyed. It is an emotional tug-of-war between the allure of progress and the ache of displacement, Cole’s work challenges us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being erased in the name of empire.