American Progress John Gast

“American Progress” by John Gast is an intriguing painting. It has many elements and details that create a moving image for the viewer. When viewing the painting the first aspect I noticed was the dominant, female, angel figure in the center of the painting. It seems that she has a significant role in the painting due to the position and enlargement of the character. I interpret her presence in the painting as a godly figure who is guiding and protecting the people. However, the angel could also represent the people’s longing for a saving grace or a blessing upon their decisions as they move forward. I also noticed that there was a lot of different types of transportation, including: boats, horses and carriages, and trains. Indicated by the title, the various ways of transportation may represent progression during this time. In the image there is also a very distinct use of light …show more content…
My observations of the multiple means of transportation, the use of dark and light contrast, and the angelic figure all held significant meaning for this painting. I took interest in the way he included things such as the angel stretching the telegraph string into the land of the west with a book in her hand to represent the opportunity that the west could potentially provide in many different way for the American people. He also included the images of the Indians fleeing in what was thought to represent the fear placed on the people due to the uncertainty of modernity.
John Gast provided an accurate image of Manifest Destiny and the future civilization of the west during this time. In his painting, “American Progress,” he used symbolism to create an image that would encourage and comfort the people of America during western expansion. His painting was so relevant and meaningful that interpreting the meaning behind the image was not difficult when matched to the time