The Transcendental Movement

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At the heart of the transcendental movement is the belief that one can find spiritual satisfaction by becoming one with nature. At the time of the Transcendentalists, a similar movement was taking place in the artistic world with the Hudson River School, which focused on capturing breathtaking American landscapes, often untouched by mankind, or at least Europeans. Americans read the works of Thoreau and Emerson and naturally wanted to experience this nature for themselves. However, as most could not simply venture Westward, paintings like Albert Bierstadt’s “The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak” became a way for the wonder and beauty or nature to reach anyone, anywhere. The color contrast between the light blue sky and mountains against the dark

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