In the 1840s the works of George Catlin, Seth
Eastman, and John Mix Stanley captivated East Coast audiences.
These artists played up to their audiences, who relished Indians
and trappers as peculiarly exotic, by favoring especially colorful
and dramatic subjects. Their impact on other artists was enormous
because they carefully recorded the peoples they met.
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The early artists in this time period could not resist the
temptation to use paintings to tell dramatic stories about their
encounters with native peoples and the vast, strange landscape
of mountains and plains. This continued for generations, but by
the 1850s, photography was used to narrate the nation's development
and its native peoples. These storytelling painters and photographers
shaped artists' views of the West for years to come.
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In the years before and after World War I, many artists strived
for modern, totally original American art forms. These modernists
continually experimented and concentrated on finding forms that
best reflected their feelings.
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By the mid-twentieth century, personal expression had become
the goal for many artists. These artists called upon viewers to
expand their own visual and emotional knowledge.
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