Thomas Cole and the Art of the Hudson River School
The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism. The paintings for which the movement is named depict the Hudson River Valley and the surrounding area, including the Catskill, Adirondack, and White Mountains. Hudson River School paintings reflect three themes of America in the 19th century: discovery, exploration, and settlement. This discussion explores its founder, Thomas Cole, as well as Church and Durand, and the importance of European masters Turner and Constable.