Thursday, September 4, 2008

"Westward the Course of Empire..."

Speaking of America,

When I resume my long meditation on art, modernity, and spirituality, it will be on American art after the Civil War, especially about the second wave of westward expansion, and about some uniquely American forms of spirituality that have lately been either largely forgotten, or gone out of fashion.

Emmanuel Leutze, Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, 1862


John Gast,  American Progress, ca. 1872

1 comment:

susan s. said...

Oh, look at the Golden Gate after Ft. Point was built and with no bridge! I know this has nothing to do with your meditation, but I believe these scenes are rare.

Ft. Point is the exact twin of Ft. Sumpter, I think.