American Progress By John Gast

During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, artistic interpretations of the west sparked westward movement of people. A nineteenth century painting by Albert Bierstadt named the Oregon Trail (1869) depicted the west as a serene wilderness providing hope and the promise of a fulfilling life. In contrast, the photograph Lakewood California by William Garrett (1950) and a painting by John Gast called American Progress (1872) shows a more industrialized view of the west. An article written by Joshua Johns named A Brief History of Nature and the American Consciousness also describes the influence of the industrial revolution in the artistic perception of the west. These artistic interpretations of the west influenced people’s perception of the …show more content…
The painting displays a wide landscape framed by a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. In the foreground of the painting, farmers, settlers, Native Americans, and even animals are all traveling in the same direction which the painting alludes to be the American West. The most striking aspect of the painting is the large angelic figure of a woman in white flowing robes stringing telegraph lines. Behind the figure, two steam trains follow the angelic figure west. The juxtaposition of the industry developed in the west such as telegram and railroad with the background of snowcapped mountains relates to the perception of boundless resources in the west. The farmers symbolize the beginning of the industrialization of the west and how the perception of the west shifted from a wilderness to an area of boundless resources. Although, once the industrial movement spurred the rise in technology people wanted to take part in the higher standards of life, therefore industries were obligated to shift the artistic interpretations of the west to appeal to new generations in order to continue the large boom in westward