Panoramas: Close Enough to Nature?

It seems to me that panoramas appealed to the "civilized" masses of the nineteenth century because it provided people with a "safe" way to experience nature. Individuals sought to remain in their comfort zone while at the same time getting just "close enough" to the unknown wilderness. Their goal was use pieces of painted canvas to satisfy their desire to tune in with the unknown wilderness, rather than just experiencing firsthand interaction with the "outside world."

-Robin Simpson