Which art movement was founded by Thomas Cole and focused on American landscape painting?

The Hudson River School is the correct answer, as it was a mid-19th century American art movement founded by Thomas Cole and other like-minded artists. This movement is renowned for its emphasis on the beauty of the American landscape, particularly the natural scenery of the Hudson River Valley and surrounding areas.

Artists from this movement sought to capture the sublime qualities of nature, often portraying vast vistas, dramatic lighting, and an idealized vision of the American wilderness. The works produced under the Hudson River School not only reflected the landscape itself but also conveyed deeper themes of nationalism and a celebration of the American experience, contributing significantly to American art history.

While American Impressionism, Romanticism, and Realism all had significant impacts on art during their respective periods, they do not specifically focus on the landscape paintings pioneered by Thomas Cole and his contemporaries as part of the Hudson River School. American Impressionism, for instance, was characterized by lighter brushwork and a focus on light and color influenced by French Impressionism, while Romanticism broadly embraced emotion and individualism in art. Realism, on the other hand, was more concerned with depicting everyday life and social issues rather than the idealized portrayal of nature seen in the Hudson River School artworks.