The angel in the painting represents America paving the way across the Plains for the settlers. The artist uses the Native Americans and wildlife to represent a darkness that America is 'getting rid of'. Americans in the East were getting crowded and because of the white man's idea that they have always had the God-Given right to conquer all of America, they decided to move West. The woman is carrying a book (perhaps the Bible or a book of laws?) and a line of telephone wire, symbolizing the 'light' in which she is dispersing across the Western USA. The settlers are following her at a steady pace (covered wagons, ships, trains, etc.), which shows how quickly the idea of westward expansion spread throughout the colonies.
Outstanding job! The idea that Americans had a duty and obligation to spread from coast to coast is a motivating force and allowed them to commit violence and atrocities against non-whites.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I hope you know the person above.