Module 5 Artwork Analysis
Thomas Moran, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone(detail), 1872, oil on canvas mounted on aluminum, 213 x 266.3 cm (Smithsonian American Art Museum,
Lent by the Department of the Interior Museum, L.1968.84.1)
https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/geography-environment/
This is an oil canvas mounted on an aluminum painting done by Thomas Moran titled “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone”. Last week I described a similar art piece that brought American landscapes to life. This art piece has many similarities but also many differences. The art piece futures massive mountain walls on the right and left side with an electric blue river roaring down the middle. The painter uses the effects of the sun lighting up the canyon in the background of the painting but up close where travelers follow a narrow mountain path are hidden in the shadows of the canyon. Where the sun does hit the canyon it amplifies golds and browns of the earth material composed in the canyon. Two travelers stand on a rock platform above the river pointing into the distance. These two wear bright colors (one in red and one in a darker yellow brown) compared to the travelers accompanying them that appear to be tending to the horses.
The painter uses defined lines to make contours in the rock forms that make up the mountain walls. Doing this also brought textures to the rocks that make them look rugged and rough. The painting also does a nice job of making the effect of depth perception by looking down the canyon from where the river appears to start.
The author of this art piece appears to be sharing this painting for two main reasons from my standpoint. The first is to show off the beautiful landscape of the Yellowstone canyon. The second is based on when the painting was originally painted in 1872 these travelers appear to be exploring this area and seeing what it has to offer. I also came to this conclusion as the two travelers point into the distance. I can only imagine they are having a conversation about the canyon and so far what they have explored.
“Geography and the Environment.” Smarthistory. Accessed February 12, 2021. https://smarthistory.org/seeing-america-2/geography-environment/.
I like the imagery you used to describe the painting and how it seems realistic. The landscape of Yellowstone in this art work really can be described as beautiful it almost made me feel like I was there. And it was interesting to find out that the people in this picture are travelers.
ReplyDeleteHey noah I think you did a great job explain the painting. I like the way in detail you explained the angles and the way the sunlight hits the mountains. Good job using art vocabulary throughout the whole post, Your grammar and spelling is good.
ReplyDeleteHello Noah, thank you for sharing this artwork. How you described it really allowed me to view it in the fullest capacity. Also I find it amazing how nature was before everything became settled land. Given the time this was painted it seems that these were one of the early settlers on this land. This painting is a representation of the pristine landscape and the artist captured it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHey Noah, this is a great art piece to analyze! How you explain the background of the painting and how it's of early settlers exploring the Grand Canyon. I really liked the imagery you involved with how the explorers could be talking about the canyon and how far they've come.
ReplyDeleteI am personally a big fan of this selection of artwork for this post, mainly because i love landscape imagery and the beautiful nature and coloration that is involved with it. there is so much going on if you really look at it the dark being the past the light being the future, or that there is a light at the end of the tunnel of a hard pass of travel through that landscape. trully excellent choice for your post!
ReplyDelete