Call for Action

Being an environmental minor, I am more interested in environmental aspects rather than interpreting art. Because of this I always find it difficult to form complete analysis of different paintings. But one concept we discussed in class that truly caught my interest was contrasting the progress in industrialization and the destruction of environment. One particular example is George Inness’ The Lackawanna Valley (1855). At first glance this painting may appear uplifting and as an example of advancement in our society. But the more I look at it, the more I become appalled and frustrated. Between the smoke towers that cover the land in pollution and the dozens of tree remains, this painting is clearly portraying the destruction of the environment for the sake of technological advances. In the background you can see the trains passing through the once lush greenery. The land has been completely taken over and the homes of countless animals has been destroyed. So this implies the question: at what point do the costs outweigh the benefits? There is no black and white answer for that question. Even the man portrayed in the painting seems complexed by his emotions. Does he favor the progress or does he detest the destruction of the once peaceful landscape? It is up to the individual viewer to form their own interpretation.