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Schule > Kunst > Künstler und Künstlergruppen > Gast, John > John Gast - American progress

Describing and analysing a picture

John Gast – American Progress
The painting „American Progress“ by John Gast was made in 1872.
In the top right-hand corner there is a bright light and colours like yellow and orange dominate. You can see water and ships there. In the middle of the right hand side there is a railway, a telegraph pole as well as a telegraph wire. Furthermore there is a coach.
In the bottom left-hand corner there are the farmers who have already built a home and who are working on an acre with their bulls. In the foreground there are some pioneers who are moving westward. They have a horse.
In the centre there is a big goddess-like figure who carries a schoolbook. In addition you can see first settlers in the middle who also are moving westward.
In the bottom left-hand corner is a river and a bear who takes refuge.
Above the bear there are the native Americans, the Indians, who also take refuge.
In the top left-hand corner you can see a herd of buffaloes escaping west. There are also mountains and the right side is very dark in contrast to the left side.
I suppose that the artist used oils and a fine brush so that he could add all these details.
In the century in which the picture was made, the Americans thought that they were a nation chosen by God, a nation who shall lead the world. And you can see this thought in the picture. John Gast demonstrated it by showing the east, where the Americans have already settled, in a bright light. In contrast there is the dark west which is still populated by Indians and wild animals. The wild nature still exists. There is also the big bright goddess-like figure which is Columbia, a female personification of the USA. She carries a schoolbook which stands for education. It seems as if the area she passed becomes lighted. In addition she holds a telegraph wire which means that she brings electricity and technological progress.
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