Piute Fishing on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley 1891 1871

Thomas Hill made this scene of "Piute Fishing on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley" in 1891 with oil on canvas. The traditional art materials belie how unusual the subject is, however. Hill's work often depicted the sublime grandeur of the American West. But here, the monumental landscape is juxtaposed with the everyday labor of indigenous fishermen. Look closely, and you can see the figures, rendered with sensitivity, practicing their craft within this dramatic setting. The labor of painting – the laying down of brushstrokes, the careful mixing of colors to capture the light on the water, the sheer scale of the canvas – is all brought into relation with the labor of the native population. Hill's decision to include the Piute fishermen elevates their traditional practices to the level of fine art, challenging the conventional hierarchy between landscape and genre painting. It invites viewers to consider the cultural significance of Yosemite Valley beyond its scenic beauty, acknowledging the lives and traditions of the people who have long called this place home.