This statement could define the theme of "Westward Ho!" in the best way. Scene in the painting takes place in the middle of the nineteenth century, in the period of strong expansion of American influence westwards, when ordinary Americans, hoping to gain some economic independence after years of struggling, among them around 90,000 so-called "forty-niners" - 4 De Benneville Randolph Keim was a correpondent of New York Herald during the American Civil War; author of Keim's Capitol Interior and Diagrams: A Complete Guide to All Parts of the Capitol (1874) gold-seekers, hoping to become rich in California, began to settle the territories that had been populated by Indians before. This process of settlement was violent, thousands of native Americans …show more content…
He illustrates not only white pioneers, but also one black servant. This shows that Leutze wanted to depicture American nation's unity, unity among different races. Moreover, he uses dark colors and tones, illustrates grey valleys, mountains and sharp rocks to reflect difficulties these desperate Americans had to overcome, their dark past and despair. Light colors in the foreground symbolize their new hopes and expectations from the West.. Two men on the sides of the picture represent William Clark6 and Daniel Boone7. They embody the idea of integration in the West. In the bottom, under the main composition, San Francisco Golden Bay is depictured. Sky above the Golden Bay is clear and light blue; the seascape is calm, symbolizing inner peace that pioneers hope to achieve in the place they will call a new home. 5. Conclusion Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze is a significant figure in American art of the nineteenth century. His great talent, persistence and unique manner of painting have been impressing not only state representatives and honorable persons, but also ordinary citizens for many years. For this reason, Leutze's legacy is still highly valued in modern