American Progress

American Progress



American Progress

For this research paper we are going to discuss “American Progress” which is painted by john Gast in 1872 (Johannsen, 1997).

This small painting (32x42cm) is an example of how spread the idea of ??progress and evolution in the 19th century. The painting, which reads from right to left, was commissioned by the publisher George A. Corfutt to cover his guide New Overland Tourist and Pacific Coast Guide to encourage western settlement. In the manner of views riders who represented the cities newly created and designed to be populated, the painter offers an aerial view, schematic , the entire North American continent.Manifest Destiny is the central theme of promoting the expansion westward, and it is interesting to note that this painting was also entitled Manifest Destiny. Corfutt describes the central character, an allegory of progress, as "a beautiful and charming young lady ... floating through the air toward the west, on the forehead with the" Star of Empire "('Star of Empire. '). She has left the city in the east, crossed the Allegheny, the "Father of Waters" (Note: Mississippi is an Indian word meaning "Father of Waters,"' Father of Waters' ) and continues its course westward. Goddess of Liberty, carries in his right hand a book-Common-School Education logo and the witness of the Enlightenment, while in the left hand and it takes place the slender son of the telegraph, which will be spread intelligence throughout the country and participate in the grid (the telegraph, which was sometimes the only element to be identified was called "The American system of mapping the landscape"). (www.150.si.edu)

Fleeing before she found the Indians, bison, wild horses, bears and other animals that disappeared in the storm and the waves of the Pacific, they run this wonderful vision - the star is ...