Distant View of Niagara Falls

artwork painting by Thomas Cole(Artist)

Thomas Cole (American, born England, 1801–1848)

The original picture was painted in 1830.

"In May 1829, Thomas Cole paid a visit to the majestic Niagara Falls, where he drew inspiration for the creation of a romanticized and autumnal scene, completed the following year. In his artistic portrayal of the American landscape, Cole intentionally omitted any depiction of the factories, scenic overlooks, and hotels that had begun to populate the area during the early 19th century. This omission was a deliberate commentary on his concern about the environmental impact of rapid industrialization.

However, it's important to note that Cole's painting, while addressing the environmental concerns, also overlooked the devastating human consequences of colonialism and conquest in the region, which encompassed the ancestral lands of the Attiwonderonk, Haudenosaunee, and Wenrohronon peoples. In the artwork, the inclusion of two Native American figures alongside the falls helps identify the setting as North America. Nevertheless, their diminished presence in terms of scale and number inadvertently reinforced the misconceived notion of the "vanishing Indian." Instead of acknowledging their stolen sovereignty, the portrayal of these figures was meant to symbolize an impending transformation, further contributing to the misrepresentation of indigenous peoples in the artwork."

-Place Niagara Falls

-Artwork, paintings, wall art, home decoration, various rooms, hotels, shops.

-files JPG, 3000 X 2324 px