Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty
“There I was, floating in the ocean below a massive statue, unfamiliar of my surroundings, but confident in the journey we had just completed,” the young immigrant thought. The consisting thoughts of disorientation were similar to mine when I entered the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. I stood in front of an eight-foot intimidating piece of astounding art, however, instead of being lost in orientation, I was lost in admiration; Admiration of the abundance of colors and textures that depict a deep, meaningful message regarding immigration.
The oil on canvas painting, lathered in a multitude of colors, was exquisitely detailed. In the center of the painting, stands Lady Liberty, so prideful. Cotton-candy looking clouds surround her, however, do not mask her beauty and extenuate her. Rays of sunshine beam through each cloud-gap and illuminate her. The rays on her crown mimic the beaming sunshine, illuminating the world. To the right and left of Lady Liberty’s foundation sits a harbor full of worn-in, wooden boats full of families of different ethnicities and cultures. Each boat is wrapped in fog, and below the boats lie a sheet of dark, musk water. Extending from each boat are flags. Flags representing several countries, cultures, and communities. The boats stand rather small, but the flag poles are raised high and look to be skyscrapers compared to the passengers. The people appear to be gathered to celebrate unity, and friendship.
The Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty was one of many breathtaking pieces displayed in the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. I wandered from piece to piece, admiring the hard work and technique of each artist, but none of the paintings stuck out to me quite like Edward Moran’s, painted in 1876.
After studying the Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty for what seemed to be an eternity, I left the rather impressive museum. I walked out of the museum to the crisp, cold air and walked through falling snowflakes to my car. As I drove home along the Mississippi River, through the winter-wonderland, my mind was racing with thoughts about Moran’s piece. I was troubled because the painting had initially sparked substantial interest, but I was conflicted with how to interpret the painting. I spent the rest of the night examining different images of the painting online, using the zoom effect to get a closer view. The reoccurring theme of unity kept coming to mind.
Represented in this painting is the unveiling of the Statue of Liberty on October 28th, 1886. Although the Statue of Liberty is a symbolic figure for Americans, it is a symbol of freedom and unity for the world. As The New Colossus on Lady Liberty’s plaque states, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”. As depicted through Italy, Japan, and France’s flags in the painting, numerous countries came to support the United States during the unveiling of Lady Liberty which is the reason I believe Edward Moran meant for his painting to replicate the meaning of unity.
There is rich history behind the artist who painted Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty. As the Smithsonian American Art Museum explains, Edward Moran grew up in Lancashire, England. Edward wasn’t always a painter. His first style of art was weaving. His interest of art and painting began with sketches on his weaving fabric. It was when his family discovered these sketches that they encouraged Edward to draw and paint. When Edward was fifteen his family moved to the United States, Philadelphia specifically. His interest in art soon became a passion as he studied under the influence of artists James Hamilton and Paul Weber. Moran was born into a family of artists, and while his brothers are both reputable for different styles of art, Edward is best known for his marine and seascape paintings.
Edward Moran painted Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty after he met French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi in London and learned of Bartholdi’s plan to gift the statue to the United States. Moran completed the painting several years before the gift of the Statue of Liberty in order to raise funds to build the foundation for the sculpture. Bartholdi constructed the statue with the intention that it would be a warm-welcome to immigrants as they came to America and were processed nearby Ellis Island. Edward Moran’s painting of the Statue of Liberty landed in the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, Minnesota after owner Joseph Drexler gave it up.
Edward Moran was an immigrant himself, which is why I believe he completed Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty as encouragement to other immigrants, as well as symbolism for the United States to be recognized as a welcoming country. Immigration is a prevalent and constantly evolving matter. While immigration is a heavily debated and controversial issue, there is a considerable amount of information regarding the history of immigration that is often overlooked. In 1876, when Edward Moran first constructed this work of art, the idea of immigration was fresh. The first group of people to come to America were the Pilgrims on The Mayflower in 1620. It wasn’t until 1882 during the Chinese Exclusion Act that the first immigration restrictions occurred. Immigration laws and restrictions have only expanded since. Over the years and through many presidents, immigration has evolved in numerous ways.
Currently our country is in the middle of one of the largest debates of immigration yet. President Donald Trump wishes to strengthen border security by installing a physical wall along the border of Mexico to prevent Hispanic immigrants from illegally entering America. President Donald Trump’s plan for stricter border security is the most intense proposition America has ever had regarding border control. Trump campaigned and won the presidency on the belief that foreign people entering America without documentation is frightening to many Americans. While the safety and security of every country is crucial, human dignity is vital, too. Today, just like in our past, each immigrant’s story and reason for traveling to America is unique. To assume all immigrants have criminal intent is unfair and offensive to many.
Immigration laws are constantly changing and evolving. While residing in a small town called Winona, far from the United States’ southern border, many people believe immigration laws don’t have any impact on them. However, many Winonans fail to realize that we are immigrants to this city. The land of Winona is home to Dakota Indians, who first walked this land. At Winona State University, we are surrounded by a multitude of foreign exchange students and immigrants every day. Even in a small town, diversity is present and flourishing.
The idea of immigration to most Americans is pretty straight forward. However, what most people don’t contemplate is the fact that their family once migrated here, too. My paternal side of the family has Russian heritage. My great grandfather migrated to the United States from Russia in 1918 when he was only fifteen years old. The Russian Revolution had begun the year earlier, and his parents had decided it was not safe for their children to remain in Russia. My great grandfather boarded a ship with his brother and sailed to Baltimore to begin a new life. Conversations with my great grandfather about his life in Russia never occurred. When he was questioned, he would say, “We don’t talk about bad times.” Each family entails hundreds of years of history. Learning about your ancestry and heritage is eye-opening, as people faced obstacles to change the quality of life for themselves and their bloodlines future generations.
Now knowing the background of Edward Moran, and what he morally believed in, several of my original questions about his painting were answered. It can be inferred that Edward Moran used the international flags to symbolize unity and implied this piece of art to be a representation of American pride and friendship. Edward Moran’s paintings are easy on the eyes, and the meanings are deeper than many viewers realize. Commerce of Nations Rendering Homage to Liberty speaks volumes about the type of person Moran was. He stood for inclusiveness, unity, and friendship. As an immigrant himself, he had first-hand experience traveling to the United States. Some would argue that the discrimination in the United States is greater today than ever before. I believe that if Edward Moran were still alive today, he would be mournful and disappointed in the barrier the United States has created with so many countries, as his painting stood for exactly the opposite. Diversity is what made our nation great, and what can make our nation great again.
