This painting is of the American Wilderness, with the sun setting in the west, just hiding behind the mountains. For Americans this was an important view point, as for them they felt they were establishing a nation out of nothing, out of the wilderness. Looking west to a whole new world and a new life for them, their family and friends. The sun setting in the west, I believe is a very strong image, by expanding ever west the sun would never set.
The sun is bringing light onto this other wise dark image. This shows us the dangers that were present as americans head forward into the wilderness to create their new nation. As well as showing us the darkness, the unknown, that Americans must of felt going deep into uncharted territories, without a TomTom or google maps, without any maps at all. Completely unknown lands, which is impossible to comprehend today.
The light at the far end of the painting shows a sentiment at the time that if you go beyond the wilderness and the mountains you will reach a bountiful land. Unfortunately for so many Americans and Indians (as well as Mexicans) this struggle west caused conflict and death, as well as genocide on a scale similar to those witnessed during WWII and in Soviet Russia.
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