Thomas Cole
(1801-1848)
WHO HE WAS:
Thomas Cole was a 19th-century artist and the founder of the Hudson River School of American landscape painting. An immigrant from England, Cole was captivated by the raw, natural beauty of the American landscape, which became the central subject of his work. His paintings are known for their romantic portrayal of the American wilderness.
WHAT HE SAID:
"To walk with nature as a poet is the necessary condition of a perfect artist."
WHY HE MATTERED:
Cole is significant for his role in American art history as the progenitor of an artistic movement that celebrated the American landscape at a time when the nation was still young and forging its identity. His work inspired a generation of painters who sought to capture the sublime and untamed beauty of the American wilderness.