The American Renaissance Artistic Expressions in Antebellum America

Overview An artistic movement in America lasting from c An artistic movement in America lasting from c Marked by an emerging fascination with the American wilderness Marked by an emerging fascination with the American wilderness American artists exert their independence from Europe and traditional artistic expressions to forge new styles and techniques American artists exert their independence from Europe and traditional artistic expressions to forge new styles and techniques

The World of Letters: Transcendentalism The truly educated person can transcend the physical world through spirituality and an awareness and appreciation of nature The truly educated person can transcend the physical world through spirituality and an awareness and appreciation of nature The significance of nature is highlighted The significance of nature is highlighted New England-centered movement; predominantly Massachussettes New England-centered movement; predominantly Massachussettes

Transcendentalist Literature: Emerson One of the most outspoken and influential transcendentalist writers was Ralph Waldo Emerson ( ) One of the most outspoken and influential transcendentalist writers was Ralph Waldo Emerson ( ) Emphasized the need for American literature and education to be independent from European influence Emphasized the need for American literature and education to be independent from European influence An strong abolitionist, much of Emerson's work had anti-slavery undertones An strong abolitionist, much of Emerson's work had anti-slavery undertones Felt the role of government should be limited with more emphasis placed on the individual Felt the role of government should be limited with more emphasis placed on the individual

Emerson

Transcendentalist Literature: Thoreau Henry David Thoreau ( ), a contemporary of Emerson with much influence of his own Henry David Thoreau ( ), a contemporary of Emerson with much influence of his own Politically outspoken; an ardent abolitionist Politically outspoken; an ardent abolitionist "Civil Disobedience" is best known work; insists individuals must act based on morality, not legality "Civil Disobedience" is best known work; insists individuals must act based on morality, not legality Gave many public lectures condemning slavery in an effort to convince both the public and politicians of the immorality of the institution Gave many public lectures condemning slavery in an effort to convince both the public and politicians of the immorality of the institution

Thoreau

Transcendentalist Literature: Fuller Margaret Fuller ( ) was one of America's first feminists, as well as a writer, poet, editor and orator Margaret Fuller ( ) was one of America's first feminists, as well as a writer, poet, editor and orator Like her contemporaries in the Transcendentalist movement, a strong abolitionist Like her contemporaries in the Transcendentalist movement, a strong abolitionist Likened the abolitionist cause to the emerging feminist movement Likened the abolitionist cause to the emerging feminist movement Found the Transcendentalist movement particularly appealing to the feminist cause Found the Transcendentalist movement particularly appealing to the feminist cause

Fuller

The World of Painting: the Hudson River School The first school of American art The first school of American art Influenced by the Transcendentalist literature movement Influenced by the Transcendentalist literature movement Sought a liberated and self-determining artistic style separate from European traditionalism Sought a liberated and self-determining artistic style separate from European traditionalism Focused on nature; known primarily for epic landscape paintings which depict the vast American wilderness Focused on nature; known primarily for epic landscape paintings which depict the vast American wilderness

Hudson River School Artists: Cole Thomas Cole ( ), painter and writer Thomas Cole ( ), painter and writer Landscape painter focusing largely on the contrast of nature and civilization Landscape painter focusing largely on the contrast of nature and civilization Expounds in his writings the major differences between the European and American wildernesses, largely the lack of open spaces mainly differentiate the two Expounds in his writings the major differences between the European and American wildernesses, largely the lack of open spaces mainly differentiate the two Concerned with the rise of development Concerned with the rise of development

Thomas Cole: The Oxbow

Hudson River School Artists: Durand Asher B. Durand ( ), contemporary of Cole's Asher B. Durand ( ), contemporary of Cole's Landscape painter in the same vein as Cole Landscape painter in the same vein as Cole Concerned with development and the risk it played on the virtually untouched West Concerned with development and the risk it played on the virtually untouched West Durand's Kindred Spirits became the epic piece of the Hudson River School movement Durand's Kindred Spirits became the epic piece of the Hudson River School movement

Durand: Kindred Spirits