How do Albert Bierstadt relate to nationalism?

Albert Bierstadt, a 19th-century American painter, is often associated with nationalism through his grand landscape paintings that celebrated the American West. His works, characterized by dramatic lighting and expansive vistas, evoked a sense of national pride and identity during a time of westward expansion. By portraying the natural beauty of the American landscape, Bierstadt contributed to the idea of Manifest Destiny, reinforcing the belief in the United States as a divinely ordained nation. His art served as both a reflection of and an inspiration for the growing national consciousness of the era.