Final answer:
The painting embodies the idea of the sublime, representing the overwhelming power and beauty of nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is a) Sublime.
The painting by Thomas Cole, View from Mount Holyoke, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm - The Oxbow, embodies the idea of the sublime. The sublime refers to the overwhelming power and beauty of nature that can evoke feelings of awe, fear, and insignificance in humans. In the painting, Cole uses a diagonal line to divide the composition into two halves, with the left-hand side depicting a wild and untamed landscape representing the sublime power of nature.