Study, Pompton, New Jersey 1879

David Johnson’s "Study, Pompton, New Jersey" is an oil on canvas landscape, a genre deeply intertwined with ideas of national identity and the romanticization of nature during the 19th century. Johnson, a member of the second generation of Hudson River School painters, created this piece during a period of immense social and environmental change in America. Through the tranquil landscape, one can sense both an appreciation of the American landscape, and the cultural values that underpinned its representation. But we must also consider the complex dynamics of land ownership, territorial expansion, and the displacement of indigenous peoples that characterized this era. Johnson's artistic choices, such as his focus on cultivated scenes, and the subtle touch of civilization in the distance invite us to reflect on the selective narratives that were being constructed about American identity and progress. Can landscape painting offer a space to rethink our relationship to the land and its histories?