The ship’s safe passage through the dark and harsh Arctic environment and American destiny is symbolized by a minute light shining out from one of the ship’s windows.Ĭhurch used small touches of pigment built together through thin applications to ensure that the viewer does not notice the different paint strokes.
The ship’s details were drawn from a sketch Hayes had brought back upon returning from the expedition.Īmong the vastness of nature, the tiny ship named “United States” highlighted America’s achievements and American optimism to navigate its future global role. The painting’s mountain peak was named after Church during an important American Arctic expedition represented by the dwarfed ship. The painting includes personal and nationalist symbolism and references. “Aurora Borealis” by Frederic Edwin Church depicts the Aurora Borealis and the Arctic expedition of Isaac Israel Hayes. “Aurora Borealis” by Frederic Edwin Church