Sketches of Landscape Views after Leaving Seattle (from Sketchbook) 1890

Albert Bierstadt quickly captured these landscape views after leaving Seattle with graphite on paper. The soft give of the paper, coupled with the yielding quality of graphite, allowed Bierstadt to rapidly fix his impressions. The immediacy of the medium suggests an artist working en plein air, trying to document a fleeting landscape as it passes. The quick notations of landforms and possible annotations capture the pace of modern life. During the 19th century, sketchbooks like this one became common tools for artists traversing vast distances by rail or ship, like Bierstadt did while touring the American West. As mass-produced items, they democratized artistic practice, making art supplies more accessible and affordable. By focusing on the materials and the act of making, we can appreciate how even a humble sketchbook page connects to broader patterns of industrial production and social experience.