Yellowstone Falls 1881

Albert Bierstadt made this painting of Yellowstone Falls using oil paints, and a lot of them. Look closely and you can see how the material itself – that thick, buttery paint – builds up the scene. Bierstadt was part of the Hudson River School, a group of painters who wanted to capture the grandeur of the American landscape. But they weren’t just copying nature. They were also selling it. These paintings were made for an audience eager to see the West, even if they couldn't get there themselves. The paint is applied in layers, almost like building up a stage set. The falls become a spectacle, made from the labor of Bierstadt’s hand and the dreams of a nation hungry for expansion. So, next time you see a landscape painting, remember it's not just a view. It’s an object, made with specific materials and processes, reflecting the social and economic forces of its time.