What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

Settler Europeans migrated to the west( western expansion) due to artists like Albert who depicted the rich environment in a way that Europeans wanted to capitalized on it. This giant painting includes the mysteries and allure of the Rocky Mountains, but shrinks the size of the Native people as a way to diminish the fact that there were people living there before them. This colonialist view allowed for the displacement and erasure of Native Americans in their homes in order to accommodate for the newly arrived settlers.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The scale of the background along with the darkness is mean to signify a mystery that evokes discovery. This is very true of the nature of colonialists always wanting to “discover” a land that they have no right to. It’s also an example of social commentary because the size of the Rocky Mountains is juxtaposed with the small native Americans who are oblivious to what will happen to them.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

It was a center piece which invites viewers to step up and discover something grand. It evokes curiosity, which upon reflection turns into newly found knowledge.

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