An Exploration of Southwestern Landscape Images

Abstract

The nineteenth century American landscape has been represented symbolically as both savage and romantic wilderness, as despoiled by the axe and as a garden. The arid landscapes of the Southwest, however, were not a part of the perceptual construct which shaped these images and the resulting symbolism. Comparisons of perceptions of residents and explorers in the Southwest with the general symbolic representation derived from the writings and works of philosophers, novelists, poets and artists suggest that images of wilderness and garden were shared. However, the image of nature despoiled, as symbolized by the axe, is replaced by the image of landscape as opportunity. This difference is attributed to variations in landscape experiences and personal motivations.