Jaya Patel

October 28, 2014

Native American Project

Romanticism and Realism

With the influence of Native American art and culture, the western United States has produced some of the most recognized and famous artists in the world. From vast landscapes to floral centerpieces, the West provides infinite sources of inspiration, imagination, and freedom to depict and harness the wild emotions which flow through the artist’s mind. The Native American spirit thrives in the West, enticing those who visit and planting a seed of wonder to whomever welcomes it. Two such artists, Albert Bierstadt and Georgia O'Keeffe, were captivated by the spirit, and in turn created famous paintings which resonate romanticism and realism in the heart of America.

With an exaggerated and romantic painting style, Albert Bierstadt has produced whimsical and surreal works of art of western America. Though he was born in Germany in 1830, Albert managed to create over five hundred paintings of the United States. Albert left Germany when he was very young, because he had always longed to see America and its beauty. Soon after he had arrived in America, he was enchanted by Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, and was inspired to produce magnificent paintings of the natural phenomenons. With romanticised expressions of the landscapes, the art was more magical than realistic, a form which was not very popular during this time period.

Georgia O’Keeffe is considered a revolutionary artist of Native American culture with her modern and realistic attitude towards her art. Often known as the “Mother of American Modernism”, O’Keeffe was born and raised in Wisconsin in 1887. She was familiar with Native American culture, because of her heritage. O’Keeffe studied at many different art schools before discovering her passion for western nature, which was unearthed during a visit to the Palo Dulo Canyon. Inspired by the bleached bones and luscious flowers, she fell in love with her art again. Her various flower paintings, and their style, have become a landmark in the art world, and easily recognized in everyday life. The simple and realistic compositions differ greatly than that of Albert Bierstadt’s work.

With both romanticized and realistic values, both artists have contributed new ideas and creative styles to American culture and art history. These are two completely different styles of painting, but both represent a beautiful and talented mind. Through landscapes of canyons to cattle skulls and fauna, Bierstadt and O’Keeffe have left an imprint on the culture of Native American history.