Landscape and American Art examines how artists across North America have interpreted and transformed the natural world from the early 19th century to today.

Through painting, photography, land art, public art, and contemporary environmental practices, artists have used landscape not only as a source of beauty but also as a stage for storytelling, commemoration, spiritual reflection, social critique, and ecological awareness. From early visions of the sublime wilderness to modern interventions that challenge our relationship with the environment, landscape has remained a powerful subject.

Throughout the course, we will look closely at works ranging from the Hudson River School and 19th-century expedition painters to Indigenous perspectives, modernist reinterpretations, and contemporary artists addressing climate change. Together, we will explore how artists have turned to the land to celebrate exploration, memorialize historical events, question the commercialization of art, and raise urgent questions about environmental responsibility.

Using visual analysis, discussion, and research, participants will consider how changing ideas about nature have shaped artistic practice in North America, while simultaneously developing their English communication skills.