Nature

Emerson’s language in “Nature” is rich with visual imagery that finds expression in the landscape paintings of the Hudson River School of Art. You can read more about this mid-19th-century movement here, and, for more context, review the resource listed above, Transcendentalism and the Hudson River School of Art.

Part A: After familiarizing yourself with the key elements of the Hudson River School, look closely at one of its representative paintings (such as Thomas Cole’s "View from Mount Holyoke", Asher Brown Durand’s "Kindred Spirits", or another of your choosing). Note the features of the painting, including not just the subject matter, but also its emphasis, proportion, rhythm, and symbolism. Using either a digital or paper medium, record those features of the painting that correspond with Emerson’s ideas about nature, and for each painting feature, provide a sentence or two from “Nature” that shows this correspondence.

Part B: Extend the ideas you’ve developed for the Hudson River School painting to a modern visual artifact of your choosing. Select an existing photo or picture (giving credit to the artist) or create your own piece of art that illustrates some of Emerson’s main ideas about nature or the human-nature relationship.