John Gast
I only care about one painting by John Gast. ‘American Progress’ from 1872.
For my money, this is one of the greatest most iconic images of America ever painted. It seems like I come across it every few years and each time I do I stop, try to figure out what is going on, and then just sit agog over how great this painting is.
I’m not a US painting historian, but I see a lineage here that is very American. The pallet and the painting style remind me of 18th century paintings…
This also feels very much like a Benton painting… there is a lineage ….
What makes this such a great painting is several fold.
This is is a myth making picture intending to show progress…
The painting itself is epic. Very much of its time in that…
The American god…
The Indians being chased off the edge of the canvas…
The irony I have to believe is unintended. Its insanely wicked and subversive.