“American Progress” the Painting by John Gast

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The painting “American Progress” by John Gast is a powerful masterpiece that says a lot about America’s expansion. This painting by John Gast “might not convey the facts and aspects of the country’s history” (Hunt 24). However, it “analyzes the historical issues associated with America’s Westward Expansion” (Hunt 29). The first observation from Gast’s painting is the presence of different methods of transportation.

The “railroad lines and wagons presented in the painting say a lot about the country’s economic position during the period” (Hunt 42). This static painting by John Gast explores how the world was unable to resist every form of change. The world was also unable to resist different technological signs of progress during the time. The painting by John Gast therefore presents “the ideas and concepts held by the people about the Mythic West” (Hunt 42).

Main body

According to Hunt (63), “the concepts of progress and human development came from the East”. The frontier “was supported by waves of people and immigrants who promoted the American thought” (Hunt 36). This description explains why “the ideas of national destiny and expansion became critical during the 19^th century” (Rothenberg 46). This painting highlights the developments and inventions that dominated the West during the period. This painting encouraged more people “to abandon their old ways of life in order to achieve new potentials and economic values” (Hunt 73).

John Gast also presents a charming and beautiful woman in his painting. She is wearing “a diaphanous gown thus making her the focal point of the painting” (Hunt 46). This “angel-like woman is definitely the Star of the American Empire” (Hunt 72). The book carried by the woman shows the importance of education. The book also “appears to inform the world about the country’s level of enlightenment” (Hunt 74). She” also holds a slender wire on her right hand” (Hunt 62). This “depiction explains how the country has embraced new technologies such as the telephone” (Hunt 64). The painting shows how the country is ready to share its technologies with the rest of the world.

*American Progress by John Gast. Oil on Canvas (1872).*

The “Indians presented in the painting are fleeing from this progress” (Hunt 78). These individuals are not ready “to accept the issues associated with the changing history” (Rothenberg 73). It is agreeable that Gast’s painting gives a powerful message about the history of the United States. The “painting gives the best analysis and layout of the issues encountered in the country during the period” (Hunt 42). The masterpiece also explores the issues associated with the country’s future. John Gast’s painting “conveys a powerful story of development in America” (Hunt 54).

Conclusion

This painting also shows how artists can contribute a lot to the historical developments and political ideas of their societies. This work of art makes it easier for the audience to explore the developments experienced in America during the period. The “country wanted to acquire new territories and promote new ideas of development” (Rothenberg 51). The “ideas of manifest destiny eventually structured the country’s later expansions” (Hunt 103). In conclusion, Gast’s painting “presents powerful ideas that describe the ambitions and expectations of many Americans during the 19^th century” (Hunt 106). This Westward Expansion was relevant because it eventually made America a powerful nation.

Works Cited

Hunt, Michael. American Ascendancy: How the United States Gained and Wielded Global Dominance. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2007. Print.

Rothenberg, Samantha. Beyond “American Progress”: The Legacy of John Gast. New York: Wiley, 2012. Print.

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“American Progress” the Painting by John Gast

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