The Oxbow

The Oxbow: More than just a bend in the Connecticut River.

This was just a magnificent display of Cole's ability in the artwork. He made this painting in the year 1836. You may not get the whole story of the painting at a glance but if you keenly look at it you will be able to see the bend in the Connecticut River. However, when this painting is viewed with a lens of the nineteenth-century political ideology, the painting describes the vastly discussed topic of westward expansion. If you look clearly at Oxbow painting, you will be able to easily view the technique this artist used which was a diagonal line well running from downright all the way up to the left side and clearly separate the landscape into two parts.

The left-hand side of the painting clearly shows a sublime view of the landscape. There is a display danger looming since there are heavy storm clouds shown and by far you can see a middle ground with rain. This displays a fertile virgin landscape showing Gods creation that has not been interfered by mankind. The landscape shown in the Oxbow painting is unruly, wild and natural. This art speaks volumes a lot about how this artist was inspired by the environment and tried to educate people about the same thing. It received massive support in New York City.

Further Notable Paintings by Thomas Cole

Catskill (Lake with Dead Trees) - This was done in the year 1825. It depicted the landscapes of the Catskill Mountains which are in the south-east side of the state of New York. Just by the edge of a motionless lake, there were dead trees surrounding it, and then suddenly, two dears get into action. This artwork is interpreted as a meditation of nature, and how time passes by leading to the emergence of life and death. This painting caught the attention of many and was displayed in the city of New York in the year 1825. This was the exact time that Thomas Cole was returning from his trip in Hudson Valley which served as an inspiration for this particular art.

Expulsion from the Garden of Eden - Thomas Cole did this piece of art in 1827-28. The painting generally described the Book of Genesis in the Christian bible where God chases away Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. He, however, did not focus so much on the naked couple but rather dwarfs them within a natural setting that has a majestic scale that signifies heavenly power. This particular painting shows Cole's great interest in religion and his desire to educate Americans and also his appreciation of the beautiful American landscape.