This famous image is entitled “American Progress”. Painted in 1872 by John Gast, it portrays an allegorical female figure of America leading pioneers and railroads westward. This image is synonymous with the American belief of Manifest Destiny.
I chose this particular image not only for its metaphorical meaning, but also complexity and the potential it would have for an amazing discussion during Social Studies. This image would work very well during a unit on America’s expansion westward. This beautiful painting has the possibility of sparking conversations about technology, transportation, culture, families, and jobs. Additionally, I selected this particular image because it contains a multitude of smaller vignettes that illustrate a deeper meaning. A discussion could be had about what the ethereal woman represents and how each of these vignettes underneath her relate to a particular aspect of westward expansion.
I shared this image with a few students in my 4th grade class. Here are a few of their responses:
“She looks like a giant angel, a long time ago. There’s storm in the corner.”
“I like this picture….I want to know more.”
“It looks like all those people are running from her…a ghost.”
“It’s a god. Nobody’s looking at her. I want to find out what’s happening.”
I really enjoy this image and have studied several John Gast photos! I like how the picture emphasizes the transition from the stagecoach to the train. She is also holding a telegraph in her hand promoting technology in the west. I enjoyed your student input and found it interesting that one student thought it was a ghost. Having these different inputs from multiple students shows that some kids understand interpreting images while others still seem to hold a gap. I really liked your one great text.