Post by Morning in Yosemite Valley on May 19, 2008 13:27:47 GMT -5
Hermann Herzog's “Morning in Yosemite Valley”
Transcendentalism is the belief that a person should formulate thought in an unadulterated environment. In his essay “Nature,” Ralph Waldo Emerson believes one must “create an original relationship with the universe” by living with nature (Emerson 1). The reason one must learn in nature is because it is isolated from the outside world. When one is isolated, he or she can create their own ideas without being influenced by societal norms. For example, when one reads a novel, he or she envisions certain aspects of the book such as the setting or the characters. However, if one sees a movie based on the novel, his or her picture of that novel will convert to that of the movie. Because society says that the picture it portrays is the correct interpretation of the novel, the people of the society with conform to it. Moreover, after reading Emerson’s essays, Henry David Thoreau attempted to live a transcendentalist life. In his essay “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” Thoreau says the reason he went to live with nature was “to live deliberately, [and] to front only the essential facts of life” (Thoreau 66). Thoreau believed that if he went into the forest and lived in solitude, through observations and experiences, he would be enlightened about the necessities for life. According to transcendentalism, society ruins ones chances of self thought, which is why if one would like to create their own individual standing in the world, one must isolate themselves in an unbiased, non influential environment.
A painting that applies greatly to transcendentalist ideals is Hermann Herzog’s “Morning in Yosemite Valley.” Along with being a beautiful painting, the work speaks to transcendentalism through its portrayal of isolation, and time of day. To begin, the setting of the painting is located in Yosemite Valley where the valley consists of a peaceful forest surrounded by mountains. One cannot be any more isolated than that because the huge barriers prevent any communication (besides electronic of course) to society. Moreover, the painted depicts the valley in the morning. According to Thoreau, “all intelligences awake in the morning” and “all memorable events… transpire in morning time and in a morning atmosphere” (Thoreau 65). The painting depicts Thoreau’s favorite time of day and accompanies Thoreau’s ideas with its bright colors and warm feeling. If Thoreau or any other person were looking for a place to achieve transcendence, the place shown in the painting would be quintessential for their success.
Transcendentalism is the belief that a person should formulate thought in an unadulterated environment. In his essay “Nature,” Ralph Waldo Emerson believes one must “create an original relationship with the universe” by living with nature (Emerson 1). The reason one must learn in nature is because it is isolated from the outside world. When one is isolated, he or she can create their own ideas without being influenced by societal norms. For example, when one reads a novel, he or she envisions certain aspects of the book such as the setting or the characters. However, if one sees a movie based on the novel, his or her picture of that novel will convert to that of the movie. Because society says that the picture it portrays is the correct interpretation of the novel, the people of the society with conform to it. Moreover, after reading Emerson’s essays, Henry David Thoreau attempted to live a transcendentalist life. In his essay “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” Thoreau says the reason he went to live with nature was “to live deliberately, [and] to front only the essential facts of life” (Thoreau 66). Thoreau believed that if he went into the forest and lived in solitude, through observations and experiences, he would be enlightened about the necessities for life. According to transcendentalism, society ruins ones chances of self thought, which is why if one would like to create their own individual standing in the world, one must isolate themselves in an unbiased, non influential environment.
A painting that applies greatly to transcendentalist ideals is Hermann Herzog’s “Morning in Yosemite Valley.” Along with being a beautiful painting, the work speaks to transcendentalism through its portrayal of isolation, and time of day. To begin, the setting of the painting is located in Yosemite Valley where the valley consists of a peaceful forest surrounded by mountains. One cannot be any more isolated than that because the huge barriers prevent any communication (besides electronic of course) to society. Moreover, the painted depicts the valley in the morning. According to Thoreau, “all intelligences awake in the morning” and “all memorable events… transpire in morning time and in a morning atmosphere” (Thoreau 65). The painting depicts Thoreau’s favorite time of day and accompanies Thoreau’s ideas with its bright colors and warm feeling. If Thoreau or any other person were looking for a place to achieve transcendence, the place shown in the painting would be quintessential for their success.