1. Romantic Art Analysis Essay
Bierstadt’s
“White Mountains, New Hampshire”

3. Albert Bierstadt
White Mountains, New Hampshire, 1863
Looking at the Painting
1. What adjectives would you use to describe the trees, water, and wildlife in this painting?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What contrasting colors predominate in this painting, and what emotional effect do these colors have on you? How does the artist’s handling of light in the painting create a sense of drama?
3. From what point of view is the scene presented—that is, where does the artist make you feel you are standing? If you were really standing in this place, what emotions would you feel?
4. Can you find any evidence of people or civilization in this scene? How would the painting’s effect be different if, for example, a city were visible in the background?
Critical Response (completed at a later date)
Some of the characteristics of Romanticism are a reverence for nature, an idealization of the past, a distrust of cities and civilization, a belief in the importance of freedom and individuality, and a fascination with the supernatural, mysterious, and exotic. In an essay, explain how Bierstadt’s painting presents a Romantic view. Cite specific details from the painting to support your opinion.

4. COLUMN ORGANIZER 1
THESIS 2
BP1
BP2
BP3 3
DETAILS

5. COLUMN ORGANIZER 1
Albert Bierstadt's painting, " White Mountains, New Hampshire," reflects characteristics of the American Romantic Movement. 2
Topic 1
Shuns the artificiality of civilization and seeks unspoiled nature
Topic 2
Contemplates nature’s beauty as a path to spiritual and moral development
Topic 3
Finds beauty and truth in exotic locales, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination 3
Details from the painting that show the artist's profound love of unspoiled nature.
Details from the painting that show the deep-rooted Idealist belief that reality is spiritual and we have the ability to make the world as we perceive it.
Details from the painting that show the yearning for the picturesque & the exotic, and the supernatural & mysterious.

6. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS SENTENCE
AND WHAT IT DOES
SENTENCE 1
-- a theme sentence that introduces one or more themes from the work
-- all commentary
-- no CD from the work 2
-- says more stuff about 1st sentence 3
-- thesis
-- names the book or title of story, poem, or painting
-- shows what the essay will talk
about
Albert Bierstadt's painting, “White Mountains, New Hampshire," reflects characteristics of the American Romantic Movement.

7. T + LI + D = CD T = Transition word(s) For example, For instance,
In addition
Furthermore,
Moreover,
Therefore,
However, (used in place of “but”)
LI = Lead-in
Commentary—your words
Sets up circumstances surrounding the detail being used
D = Detail
specific description of detail in painting
T LI
CD = For example, looking at the bottom right corner of the painting, one sees the small deer gently drinking from the moving stream.

8. 1ST BODY PARAGRAPH-LOVE OF NATURE
1) (TS) Bierstadt’s painting illustrates the artist's "profound love of nature."
2) (CD1) For example, . . .
3) (CM1)
4) (CM2)
5) (CD2) In addition, . . .
6) (CM1)
7) (CM2)
8) (CS)

9. 2ND BODY PARAGRAPH: DEEP-ROOTED IDEALIST BELIEF
(TS) The elements of the painting exemplify Bierstadt's belief that nature’s beauty is a path to spiritual and moral development.
2) (CD1) For instance, . . .
3) (CM1)
4) (CM2)
5) (CD2) Moreover, . . .
6) (CM1)
7) (CM2)
8) (CS)

10. 3RD BODY PARAGRAPH-YEARNING FOR THE PICTURESQUE & THE EXOTIC
(TS) Bierstadt’s structure of the subjects in his painting reflects the idea of beauty and truth in exotic locales, the supernatural realm, and the inner world of the imagination.
2) (CD1) For example, . . .
3) (CM1)
4) (CM2)
5) (CD2) Furthermore, . . .
6) (CM1)
7) (CM2)
8) (CS)

11. SENTENCE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS 1
AND WHAT IT DOES
SENTENCE 1
In this painting, the artist wants the viewer to realize
that . . . 2
He wants the viewer to understand this because. . . 3
In the final
analysis. . .