Isabella Flores
John Gast's 1872 painting, 'American Progress', is an allegory of Manifest Destiny, depicting the westward expansion of the United States and its ideology. The painting is a significant example of American Western Art, showcasing a female personification of the United States, Columbia, leading settlers westward. The painting conveys a dynamic story of progress, technological advancement, and the inevitable expansion of America, while also hinting at the removal of Native Americans from their lands.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painter | John Gast |
| Year | 1872 |
| Current location | Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles, California |
| Medium | Chromolithographic prints |
| Size | 11.50 by 15.75 inches (29.2 cm × 40.0 cm) |
| Subject | Columbia, the female personification of the United States |
| Theme | Manifest Destiny, American westward expansion |
| Symbolism | Progress moving from the light-skied East to the dark West |
| Symbolism | Technological progress, with various modes of transportation depicted |
| Symbolism | The "Star of the Empire" on Columbia's head, representing American destiny |
| Symbolism | A book in Columbia's right hand, representing education and enlightenment |
| Symbolism | A coil of telegraph wire in Columbia's left hand, representing the spread of intelligence |
| Symbolism | Three parallel railroad engines, representing the westward expansion and progress |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's message: Manifest Destiny and American westward expansion
John Gast's 1872 painting, "American Progress", is a powerful and influential work of art that captures the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the sentiment of American westward expansion during the 19th century. The painting, commissioned by George Crofutt, a publisher of American Western travel guides, is an allegory of Manifest Destiny, depicting the perceived inevitability of American expansion and the belief in a divinely ordained mission to settle the continent from coast to coast.
At the centre of the painting stands a female figure, Columbia, the personification of the United States. She embodies progress and enlightenment, with "The Star of the Empire" adorning her head. Her diaphanous gown adds to her ethereal presence, floating westward with a book in her right hand, symbolising education, and her left hand extending telegraph wires, representing the spread of intelligence and technological advancement. The artistic choice to have all the figures facing west underscores the theme of social and scientific progress as settlers venture towards the West Coast.
The landscape in the painting showcases a range of transportation technologies, from the simple Indian travois to the covered wagon, the pony express, and the three railroad lines. This depiction conveys a sense of historical evolution and the passage of time, with the static image capturing the dynamic story of America's westward expansion. The painting's distorted perspective serves a purpose, spanning from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains, symbolising the vast expanse of the nation's frontier.
The painting hints at the past while presenting a fantastical vision of the evolving present and future. The "Indians" in the painting flee from progress, unable to adapt to the changing tides of history. This aspect of the painting reflects the problematic doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which justified the removal of Native American populations to make way for American settlement. The painting's message aligns with Frederick Jackson Turner's 1893 essay, "The Significance of the Frontier in American History", which explores similar themes of westward expansion and the impact on American identity.
"American Progress" is a significant work in the context of American Western Art, providing a visual representation of the nation's aspirations and attitudes towards landscape representation during the industrialisation of the late 19th century. The painting has been widely reproduced and is now held by the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California, where it continues to offer insights into the historical context and ideologies that shaped the United States.
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The female figure: Columbia, personifying the US
The central figure in John Gast's 1872 painting "American Progress" is Columbia, a female figure personifying the United States. She wears a diaphanous gown and on her head, she bears what the painting's commissioner, George Crofutt, called "The Star of the Empire". Columbia, or Lady Columbia, is a national emblem of the United States, often used in the 18th and 19th centuries, and a poetic name for America, invoking the ideals of liberty, freedom, and democracy.
Columbia is depicted as leading settlers across the continent, from the light-skied East to the dark West, representing the idea of Manifest Destiny and American westward expansion. She carries a book, which Crofutt describes as "the emblem of education and the testimonial of our national enlightenment", and in her left hand, she holds a coil of electric power line wire, or telegraph wire, symbolising the intellectual and scientific advancements that result from westward expansion.
The painting's composition emphasises the central figure's role in leading and guiding the settlers. All the figures in the painting face west, towards the setting sun, conveying a sense of progress and inevitability. The technological advancements are also emphasised, with the simple Indian travois preceding the covered wagon, the pony express, and the three railroad lines, which stretch into the distance.
The painting presents a romanticised and idealised vision of American expansionism, with Columbia as the embodiment of this vision. She represents the belief in the inevitable progress and enlightenment that will come from the nation's westward expansion. The painting was commissioned by Crofutt, a publisher of American Western travel guides, who had a financial interest in promoting the conquest of Native American lands. The painting reflects the attitudes and ideologies of the time, and the belief in the superiority of American technological and intellectual advancements.
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The Star of Empire: a symbol of American destiny
The Star of Empire is a key symbol in John Gast's 1872 painting "American Progress", an allegory of Manifest Destiny. The painting depicts a female figure, Columbia, the personification of the United States, with "The Star of Empire" on her head, leading settlers westward. This star is a powerful symbol of American destiny and progress, representing the nation's inevitable westward expansion and its belief in its own enlightenment and progress.
The painting was commissioned by George Crofutt, a publisher of American Western travel guides, who had a financial interest in the conquest of Native American lands. Crofutt described the central figure as a "beautiful and charming female... floating westward through the air, bearing on her forehead the 'Star of Empire'". This star is a key element of the composition, signifying the intellectual and scientific advancements that Crofutt and others believed would result from American westward expansion.
In her right hand, Columbia carries a book, representing education and enlightenment, while her left hand holds a coil of telegraph wire, symbolising the spread of communication and technology across the land. The dynamic story told by the painting is one of progress and inevitability, with the static image conveying a sense of movement and the passage of time. The inclusion of various modes of transportation, from the simple Indian travois to the railroad, further emphasises this sense of technological advancement and the evolution of American society.
The Star of Empire, shining brightly on Columbia's head, is a visual representation of the belief in American exceptionalism and its divinely ordained destiny. It symbolises the nation's aspirations and the guiding light of progress, leading the way westward. The painting, with its idealised and distorted perspective, serves as a historical record of the attitudes and ideologies of the time, particularly the notion of Manifest Destiny and the removal of Native American populations to make way for American expansion.
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The book and wire: representing intellectual and scientific progress
John Gast's 1872 painting, "American Progress", is a powerful depiction of American westward expansion and the belief in Manifest Destiny. At the centre of the painting stands a female figure, Columbia, the personification of the United States, bearing the "Star of Empire" on her head. In her hands, she holds a book and a coil of telegraph wire, which are key symbols representing intellectual and scientific progress.
The book, as described by George Crofutt, the publisher who commissioned the painting, is "the emblem of education and the testimonial of our national enlightenment". It symbolises the spread of knowledge and education across the nation. The book represents the intellectual advancements that Americans believed would accompany their expansion westward.
The wire, or telegraph lines, in Columbia's left hand represent the spread of technology and communication. The telegraph was a relatively new invention at the time, and its inclusion in the painting highlights the importance placed on technological progress and the belief that it would unite the nation, allowing "intelligence to flash throughout the land". The wire also represents the idea of a connected nation, with information and ideas being shared rapidly and efficiently.
Together, the book and wire symbolise the optimism and belief in the inevitability of progress, both intellectual and scientific, that was prevalent during this period of American history. The painting captures a moment in time, with the past hinted at and a vision of the future laid out, where the expansion westward brings with it technological advancements and a more enlightened society.
The inclusion of various modes of transportation in the painting, from the simple Indian travois to the railroad engines, further emphasises the theme of progress and the passage of time. The static painting conveys a sense of dynamic movement and the inevitable march of progress, with the figures all facing west, towards the future.
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The landscape: a distorted perspective, spanning the US map
John Gast's "American Progress" (1872) offers a unique perspective on the American landscape, spanning from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains. Unlike traditional landscape paintings of the early to mid-19th century, Gast's work is a deliberate departure from realism, presenting a distorted yet purposeful view of the continent.
In the painting, the right side depicts what appears to be the Great Lakes or Manhattan Island, with bridges and ships. This area represents the East, with its advanced infrastructure and technological progress. The composition then moves towards the West, where the landscape transforms into a more primitive and untamed frontier.
The centrepiece of the painting is a female figure, known as Columbia, the personification of the United States. She embodies the spirit of American liberty and progress. Adorned with the "Star of Empire" on her head, she carries a book, symbolising education and enlightenment, and stretches out telegraph wires, representing the spread of intelligence and technological advancements.
Columbia faces west, leading settlers towards the unknown territories of the West. The Native Americans in the painting are shown fleeing from progress, unable to keep up with the rapidly changing times. The inclusion of various modes of transportation, from the simple Indian travois to the railroad lines, emphasises the passage of time and the evolution of technology.
Gast's distorted perspective serves a symbolic purpose, reflecting the changing attitudes towards landscape representation in America during the late 19th century. As the nation embraced industrialisation, the idea of Manifest Destiny, with its emphasis on westward expansion and the removal of Native American populations, became a prevalent ideology. "American Progress" captures this sentiment, presenting a fantastical version of the evolving present and a vision of the future shaped by technological and intellectual advancements.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting "American Progress" by John Gast is an allegory of Manifest Destiny and American westward expansion. It depicts a female figure, representing Columbia (a personification of the United States), leading settlers towards the West, signifying social and scientific progress.
The female figure in the centre of the painting, often referred to as a "beautiful and charming female", represents Columbia, the female personification of the United States. She wears "The Star of the Empire" on her head and carries a book, symbolising education and enlightenment, while also holding a coil of telegraph wire, representing technological advancements.
"American Progress" was created in 1872 during a time of significant cultural and technological changes in the United States. The nation was rapidly industrialising, and there was a growing belief in the idea of Manifest Destiny, which justified the westward expansion and displacement of Native American populations. The painting reflects these shifting attitudes towards landscape representation and the celebration of technological progress.
