The European vision of America

by Hugh Honour

Exhibition to commemorate the bicentennial of United States independence, with European perceptions of America as manifested in works of art. Foreword, author's acknowledgments, introduction. Photographic credits, list of lenders, index. Some color plates, black and white illustrations throughout. x, 388 pages. stiff paper wrappers. 8vo..

Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

A self-taught English art historian.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a high hopes for this book, especially after reading the Foreword. In it, the curators of the exhibition this catalog was created for (Sherman Lee, J. Carter Brown, and Emmanuel de Margerie) call for the re-examination of the United States. "Some of the most damaging and critical miscalculations have resulted in native pride combined with lack of profound knowledge about other people."

There are many sections that do offer a reexamination of how the symbolism of America was created and controlled by those that "lacked a profound knowledge" of the New World and those that were living in it before colonization. However, the scope of this examination was narrow. If unveiled the racist undertones of the treatment of Native Americans, but only skims the treatment of slaves.

In addition, wholly lacking was a thorough examination of the shift of allegorical depictions of America from nude native to classicized goddess, which is how France envisioned the US in the 19th century. This shift also needs re-examination.