Bryce Canyon National Park c. 1940s

Louie H. Ewing made this print of Bryce Canyon National Park using color lithography. This process involves drawing an image on a flat stone or metal plate, treating it to repel ink in the non-image areas, and then printing the image onto paper. The flat, graphic style owes much to the aesthetics of the Works Progress Administration, which employed artists during the Great Depression. Lithography, while an established technique, found new life as a medium for mass production, allowing artists to create affordable art for a wider audience. The print's smooth surface and clean lines emphasize the park's iconic rock formations, simplifying the natural landscape into a series of vibrant, geometric shapes. Ewing’s choice of lithography underscores a shift towards democratizing art, making it accessible beyond traditional gallery spaces, and placing it within the reach of everyday people. This piece invites us to appreciate the beauty of our national parks and also to consider the role of accessible art in celebrating them.