The Beauty of Frederic Edwin Church’s Paintings and the Eloquence of Edward Hirsch’s Poems

            Frederic Edwin Church’s 5 feet by ten feet oil on canvas landscape painting, “The Heart of the Andes” and Edward Hirsch’s poem titled “Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad” are both inspired works of art in their own right. Church’s piece portrays the ideal landscape of the sights he toured in South America. While Hirsch’s poems are inspired by the paintings that he sees and Edward Hopper’s work in particular has influenced his passion. Church’s paintings were seen to hold more meaning than they actually show and there’s some hidden meaning behind these expansive landscapes. Edward Hirch’s poems breathe life into the paintings that he is describing as he creates a scenario that only involves the painter and the object before him. These two artists may have two vastly different styles of portraying their creativity, but each piece displays true emotional depth.

            Church’s “The Heart of the Andes” shows a landscape containing numerous types of terrains. The foreground has a luscious forest along with a small glimmering pool below a waterfall. As the view expands the scenery gets less green and more barren and mountainous. The mountains are a mixture of orange-red with a tinge of purple near the peaks caused by the purple hue of the sky. Delving even further into the painting, a snowy mountain is seen in the distance. The peak contrasts greatly with the dry barren looking mountains which appear to not be too far away. The clear blue sky above the arctic scenery provides a brighter picture while there is a dark shadow looming over the bare mountains. There are minor details missed after initial inspection. The painting shows two people tending to a grave near a worn path and before the mountainous landscape there is a small settlement near a lake and forest.

“The Heart of the Andes” by Frederic Edwin Church (Source: http://camio.oclc.org)

             Edward Hirsch’s “Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad” is written in such a way that it characterizes the house, the painting in general, and the painter. Hirsch describes the house as someone who is being stared at, silently being judged. He imagines that the painter looking upon the house must think that there must be something wrong with it, that it must have done something to its inhabitants. It goes on to say that the house also did something to its surrounding environment because the sky is bland and there are no signs of any kind of life. The house then puts on an expression of its own. It expresses feelings of restlessness and nervousness. Soon the painter disappears and goes off to paint other abandoned buildings of a bygone era. Those very buildings will be judged and stared at the very same way. They will be looked at as someone who is going to be left alone once again.

             “Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad” depicts a house that represents American society before the Industrial Revolution. The house is a monument of 19^th century architecture and therefore outdated in the face of the growth of urban life. As the poem shows, the house has been abandoned and is alone among the barren environment where only one set of railroad tracks run through it. The only purpose it has left is to be painted or written about in order to be regarded as history and become a mere memory. Such is the fate of a house that has long since been seen as inferior to more modern architecture. Edward Hirsch describes how lonely an existence that the house by the railroad has and perhaps even touches upon the lonely life of the artist. Through his poem he describes the true meaning behind Edward Hopper’s artistic piece. That meaning is the progression of American society and what society gains and loses. It gains more efficient and sleek buildings but in turn those buildings lose the ability to show emotion and creativity. The house by the railroad is able to be described in such a way that it’s given a personality and can project emotion. This would be difficult to do something similar for a generic looking skyscraper. “Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad” by Edward Hirsch displays the haunting tragic beauty of Victorian architecture in Industrial America.   

Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad by Edward Hopper

(Source: http://www.ibiblio.org)

             Frederic Edwin Church’s, “The Heart of the Andes” portrays the ideal scenery of the Andes in South America. This landscape portrait is displayed in such a way that it’s as if such a sight would be in one’s imagination. When the painting was initially shown to the public, a pamphlet was passed out containing praises and descriptions by Reverend Louis Legrand Noble. “Frederic Church” by John K. Howat contains an excerpt of it stating that, “by these rules is this great picture planned and painted. It has all those vital connections, blendings, gradations, repetitions and balancing requisite for perfect harmony and just proportion,” (83). The overwhelming sights of the mountains coupled with the dark hue the clouds hovering over them create contrasts greatly with the bright luscious scenery in the foreground. The portrait captures the essence, more specifically, the emotions that such a sight invokes. The emotions come in a sort of progression. At the foreground it begins with the tranquil scenery of the waterfall and lush nature.

             This coupled with the small detail of the pair tending to a grave adding a hint of solemnity; the emotions at the time are feelings of tranquility and peace. However as the landscape pans out, the sight of the dark barren mountains brings about feelings of uneasiness because there’s little to admire. The top left side of the landscape has a bright snowy peak and it seems like the mountain itself cleared away the clouds and let the calm blue sky show. This mountain in particular shows colors of both white and a slight mix of light purple caused by the lingering dark clouds above it. This view stands out from the rest of the painting and it brings feelings of relief and calm.

            There is more to Church’s paintings than a “pretty face”. Church had goals for his paintings and “his goal was always the same; to make landscape painting rise above the merely descriptive and for far more than simply record the basic facts of the external world,” (Kelly 32). His ability to meld themes and ideals into his paintings is influenced by his mentor Thomas Cole. One object in particular that Church uses is the stump in his work of art, “The Memory of Cole” and “the stump was…a device Cole often used to suggest man’s destruction of the wilderness,” (Kelly 46).  Church uses it to represent the end of a traveler’s journey, Thomas Cole’s spiritual journey of life. The religious undertones are shown by the small cross at the center of the foreground of the painting.

 

“To the memory of Cole” by Frederic Edwin Church (Source: http://www.theathenaem.org) 

             Edward Hirsch’s poems have a certain format noted in Peter Stitt’s critique of Edward Hirsch’s poem anthology “Wild Gratitude”. Stitt’s states that, “Written in a narrative style, the poems in Wild Gratitude display both unsentimental personal reflections…and elegiac tributes to artists and writers of the past,” (194). Edward Hopper and the House by the Railroad is just that, a tribute by Hirsch that displays the possible inner thoughts of Edward Hopper. Hirsch doesn’t write these poems to just give his two cents on what the painting means but to also give his respects to the artist’s brilliance. As an artist, Hirsch has his own personal reflections and one in particular is titled, “A Dark Hillside”. Hirsch muses that, “the afternoon’s deep shadows, the silence of the country at dusk can still seem like a kind of promise, a pact between the red elms and dusky clouds,” (Hirsch 73). Hirsch further displays his talent of showing things to have a mind of their own and that certain elements “communicate” with each other unbeknownst to people. Hirsch shows that he can not only have a house display emotion through his poems but he can describe the haunting beauty of Nature and characterize its elements as well.

            Both Hirsch and Church’s ability to invoke subtle emotions and thought into the minds of their viewers is remarkable in their own right. Hirsch accomplishes this through a narrative style when writing his poems. So it’s either through his eyes or the eyes of the artist that he is paying homage to. While Church does this by touring the places that he paints and implementing his own creative touches to the scenery, making the nature look divine. However, it’s been stated that it’s not just ideal scenery that Church paints. Church creates these landscape paintings with faint themes and messages.

             Hirsch’s and Church’s primary works of art express a high level of emotion. Hirsch is able to give a house the ability to express itself while Church shows the sheer variety of emotions a landscape can possess. Hirsh’s poem brings about feelings of pity and solitude and Church’s portrait inspires awe with its divine looking scenery. What they focus on may contrast, with Hirsch focusing on the progress of manmade structures and Church on the pure beauty that Nature creates. However, both artists delve deeper into what they initially see and bring forth a whole new meaning to the view. 

Annotated Bibliography

Carr, L. Gerald and Franklin Kelly. The Early Landscapes of Frederic Edwin Church 1845-1854. Fort   

            Worth, Texas: Amon Carter Museum 1987. 

This is a book that gives information on how Frederic Edwin Church came to prominence as a landscape artist during the first decade of his career. Specifically how Church didn’t start out painting luscious landscapes of foreign countries and even when he got to that point, his work wasn’t widely positively received. There are facts on Church’s mentor, Thomas Cole and how his style of painting landscapes and implementing symbolism transferred to Church. He then made the style his own and toured many sights of Nature and painted them as if they were created through imagination alone. Such a style wasn’t well received but gradually grew on the American public and they were soon in awe of his work. The book provides useful information on the early life of Frederic Edwin Church and how he became the artist that he was.  This is an essential source for those who are doing research on the artistic career of Church and need to find the source of his talent.

Church, Frederic Edwin. The Heart of the Andes. Camio: A catalog of Art Museum Images

Online. 1859. Web. 5 Nov. 2010

            This site houses many a work of art which ranges from photographs to sculptures. Camio hosts hundreds of pictures of many pieces of art and provides basic info such as its creator, when it was created, and the museum it’s being displayed at. The site would be useful for finding pieces of art and wanting to see them in person because it also lists museums and galleries and the works they house. This site is useful for finding credible images of artwork and can be used freely for educational and research purposes as long as credit is given.

Church, Frederic Edwin. To the Memory of Cole. Private Collection. 1848. Web. 2 Dec. 2010

            A site named The Athenaeum that provided this image has practically the entire works of Frederic Edwin Church reproduced and on display electronically along with many other collections of artwork, poems. This includes a record of all artists that contributed their work to the site and a database of how many pieces they have on the site. Anyone can register on the site and contribute different pieces of writing and art. As well as be updated on the latest news concerning the Arts and Humanities. If one wished to obtain reproductions of famous works of art for a project on a certain artist, then this site would be one of the first ones to check into.

Hirsch, Edward. Wild Gratitude. New York: Knopf, 1986.

            This source is a collection of Edward Hirsch’s poems that are mostly themed towards loneliness. Wild Gratitude contains a combination of analysis and tribute to artists and their works along with the solemn self reflections of Hirsch himself. It’s useful for obtaining and analyzing the many works by Edward Hirsch. However it can also be used to better understand the artistic pieces it’s describing which is the case of Edward Hopper and the House is by the Railroad.

Hopper, Edward. “House by the Railroad”. http://www.ibiblio.org. 2002. Web. 2 Dec. 2010

            Image of Edward Hopper’s “House by the Railroad” was obtained by a public library and digital archive. The site hosts many categories of subjects such as history, biographies, geography, and social sciences. The user enters the subject into the search engine and is provided with links to other credible sites where facts that are sought after may be found. This site would be useful for many research projects given its wide range of provided information.

Howat, John K. Frederic Church. Yale University Press, 2005.

            The book provides a chronological timeline of Frederic Edwin Church’s major works throughout American history. Along with the images of the landscape paintings, there is detailed background information and history on the piece of art and how it came to be. This includes the praise and criticism that Church received for his earlier works such as “The Heart of the Andes”. Such information would be particularly useful when trying to find facts on Church’s works of art and how he came into prominence in the artistic field.

"Wild Gratitude by Edward (Mark) Hirsch." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon K.

Hall. Vol. 50. Detroit: Gale Research, 1988. 194-199. Literature Criticism Online. Gale.

UMass Dartmouth. 5 November 2010. Database

This article provides an extensive review on Edward Hirsch’s poem compilation,“Wild Gratitude”. It also provides a bit of background on Edward Hirsch and the process that he goes through when trying to find inspiration or how inspiration comes to him. It breaks down the poems of the compilation into two categories, homage’s to artists and bleak narrative vignettes. The review is useful for trying to understand what message certain poems are trying to relay to the reader because it names a few poems that fall under one of the two categories. A review that helps better understand the mind of Edward Hirsch and the general themes he shows in his poems.   

The Undertaking of Discovering the Beauty of Nature

        I’m on a hilltop viewing an expanding forest. To think just a few miles south of my location there are streets, cars, and buildings. This campus has its own little circle of nature to admire. One can only truly appreciate the sight, the sounds of it when the campus ground is dead silent. I hear are leaves rustling, and the howl of the slight breeze. The sky hear always seems to be bleak this time of the year. A white and gray blanket covers the sky. The thin sheet of rain makes it so that I’m viewing the scenery before me through a slight fog.  It’s more apparent as I look north to the forest. I can only make out the outline of the trees. It’s strange. Although I see many tiny rain drops, I only feel a few of them land on my face and hands. Perhaps the wind is changing their trajectory. The air is of course thick with moisture. There’s always that certain scent that a rainstorm emits.

The ground I sit on isn’t the most comfortable place to relax on. I extend my hand out and every drop that hits makes parts of it tingle. Near the campus walkways there’s a line of trees next to it. Then I look at the open playing field where field hockey practice is held and wonder. I wonder about how much of this land before me was teaming with Nature before people came along and destroyed most of it in order to build. In certain areas, only a few groups of trees remain. While I don't enjoy the bitter cold weather, I know someone  who would find some beauty and color in the scenery. Henry David Thoreau would because in his essay, A Winter Walk he only described positively towards the winter cold surrounding him. As he awoke one morning he said "The snow lies warm as cotton or down upon the window-sill; the broadened sash and frosted panes admit a dim and private light, which enhances the snug cheer"(Thoreau). Amidst the unforgiving winter, Thoreau still found warmth and comfort which is a talent that should be envied. Since I can't help but wonder what it’ll feel like when I enter one of the small forests. At the moment, this cold wind along with the dreary weather is making my nose run and giving me a bit of a cough.

            As soon as I entered the cove of trees I heard the snap of a twig. I then suddenly heard a squawking noise, looked up and saw a few nests in the trees. If I had to guess I think that constant noise was coming from baby birds inside said nests. As the birds made noise I heard the sounds of what could have been a squirrel. For some reason, even though these animals mean no harm to me, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy when I was deeper in the woods. I always turned towards a sound whenever a twig snapped. The entrance of the woods had a bit of a pathway and a circular area where there was only brush. I see a bit of trash so maybe the area was frequented by students. Deeper into the woods I could see that the brush and trees got a lot denser.

             I delved further into the woods as more trees surrounded me, branches prodded me, and leaves brushed up against me. The deeper I ventured, the darker it got. Shivers ran up and down my spine and I closed my eyes and just listened. Standing perfectly still, all I heard was the slight rustling of leaves along with the soft moan of the blowing wind. Then there was the sound of wildlife around me. As I listened harder I heard the pitter patter of the light rain landing on the tree branches above. All I did was lose myself in the music Nature was making all around me. With no sight of the bleak scenery, I was content in my little cove of Nature. It’s a whole different story though when night falls because my spot shows an entirely different side of itself.

            Nature shows a different side of itself once the sun sets. The sounds become all the more eerie because of limited sight of what’s going on. The animals that I had heard during the day go silent. Their noises are replaced by the chirping of crickets, the night’s unofficial musician. The tranquility of nightfall transcends even the calmest of mornings. Everything is still, no animal stirs, no cars driving by reminding me of the society near my spot. It was just me and Nature together in the unyielding darkness. The feeling of being alone in the darkness was invigorating. Admittedly, I could not take on the wild if I was alone deep within a vast forest. Although humans have destroyed Nature in order to create, most humans have lost that survival instinct. Most of us can’t survive the unforgiving wilderness without technology protecting us against the elements of Mother Nature. It really makes me wonder but as Charles Darwin has pointed out, we behave similarly to
Nature's inhabitants in some respects. He states this in one of his books, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. One of the similarities is that we both perform certain habits. These "certain complex actions are of direct or indirect service under certain states of mind, in order to relieve or gratify certain sensations, desires,"(Darwin). While our behavior is different from that of animals, we still have impulses  and desires that we want fulfilled. In that regard, there are some signs of similarity between humans and animals. Providing evidence that all living organisms have derived from a common ancestor, supporting the scientific theory of evolution.

            Upon my third and last visit to my spot, the weather was much warmer and welcoming. A nice breeze cooling off my face as the sun beamed warmth upon it. The air was crisper and less oppressive than it was on my previous visits. I sat on my hill waiting for the sun to set, the sky to change from a bright heavenly blue to a mixture of orange, purple, and pink. To pass the time I entered the cove of wilderness I had delved in before. Perhaps it was because I had been there twice before or that it was brighter outside but I no longer felt any fear when the nature around me made sudden noises. On both sides of me there was a constant hum of crickets chirping. The sun had finally started to set and the scenery before me glowed in a hue of pink light. The clouds in the sky were a mix of dark purple, orange, and pink. The honking of seagulls could be heard in the distance. My hopes to see the sun dip beneath the horizon were dashed because the very wilderness I had explored was blocking my view. However the color of the sky above was enough to compensate. Some of these cumulous clouds move so slowly, it looks like as if it’s part of a painting, the sky is the canvas. Below is a painting by Frederic Edwin Church titled Twilight in the Wilderness which perfectly represents the scenery created by a sunset.

Twilight in Wilderness by Frederic Edwin Church (Source: http://hermes.hrc.ntu.edu.tw)

            I reflected on what I saw along with how it made me feel. I came to the conclusion that Nature is a beautiful thing to behold when you are alone to witness it. However the experience is enriched when shared with others. This may sound a bit twisted but I’ve bonded with some of my closest friends as we destroyed Nature. All that means is that we started a fire in a pit with branches and brush. Some of the most memorable nights of my life have been spent around a fire with my closest friends. Ill feelings have been brought out in the open, disputes have been settled, and something new about one another is discovered.          

Experiencing Nature can be an enlightening journey or a bonding experience with friends and family. You just stare off into the distance letting your mind wander. Certain topics are gradually brought up among your closest friends. Topics concerning you, others, or everyone present. Typically when I’m outside in the open, it’s easier to open my mind. It allows me to reflect on myself as a person and those around me. Revelations, epiphanies are to be had just on the top of a hill watching the run rise or set. To be discovered while you close your eyes and listen to the environment around you. Nature however doesn’t always provide the most comfortable environment so that these thoughts can be brought out into the open.

            On my first visit to my spot it was a dreary oppressive Tuesday afternoon. The weather had a great effect on how I felt. The dark gray sky shedding only a bit of light upon the landscape before me but making it look very hazy. This was caused by a sheet of light rain. This further added onto an already gloomy stroll through Nature, the environment all the more devoid of warmth or comfort. The fact that I was all alone doesn’t help in the slightest. I imagine that if the weather conditions had been different, then my mood would be as well. If the clouds had parted slightly, letting beams of sunshine break through, shining upon my face, a smile would have spread across it. The sunshine would reinvigorate my motivation to absorb as much of the scenery as I could. However, since Tuesday’s dismal afternoon persisted, I grew tired of observing leaves and branches in the cold and headed inside.

            I do not wish to imply that I do not enjoy the rain all the time. It’s just being alone in the rain is un-enjoyable not to mention depressing. If you’re with a friend who also likes the rain then fun times can be had. Certain aspects of Nature can only be enjoyed or appreciated depending on what is occurring, where you are, and who you’re with. Having a small fire pit surrounded by Nature and friends is one of the most under appreciated things to do. However, meditating on a rock as a waterfall makes natural music as it splashes on the rocks behind you is an activity best done alone.

            Despite all of the praise I’ve given Nature, I can’t help but feel I, like most, have taken it for granted Sure we can all appreciate the sights of the redwoods in California, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but yet we still destroy. Imagine if the population of California grew so large that some of the redwoods had to be destroyed in order to make space to build homes. A reassuring reality is that whatever damage we do to the planet’s natural works of art can be repaired once Nature outlives us all. Until then, these frequent visits to my spot will inspire me to view the most beautiful sights Nature can offer. Perhaps if we all do this and fully comprehend the magnificence of the scenery before us, we’ll help to preserve it for future generations.

Works Cited

Thoreau, David. A Winter Walk. October 1843. Thoreau-online.org. Web. 17 Oct. 2010

Darwin, Charles The expressions of the emotions in man and Animals. United Kingdom: John Murray 1872. Darwin -Literature.com. Web. 16 Oct. 2010.

Church, E. Frederic. Twilight in the Wilderness.Literature and Culture Teaching Database . 2004. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.