Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania 1864

Jasper Francis Cropsey, painted this landscape of Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. Immediately striking is the panoramic composition which unfolds in three distinct horizontal layers. In the foreground, we see a shadowed earthy bank, occupied by boulders, bushes and a towering tree that commands our attention. Then, the verdant valley stretches towards the horizon, detailed with meandering rivers, ordered fields, and distant architectural structures. This leads us to the final layer: the soft, blue-grey undulations of the hills that meet the sky. Cropsey uses light to articulate space. The sunlight illuminates the valley, creating a strong contrast with the darker foreground. This contrast enhances the sense of depth and draws the eye into the landscape. The ordered composition and the play of light on form transforms nature into a structured and legible scene, one that invites contemplation.