Grand Canyon 

Thomas Moran created this image of the Grand Canyon using oil on canvas. This wasn't just art, it was promotional material. Moran was commissioned by the Santa Fe Railroad, during a time when the American West was being aggressively marketed as a tourist destination. The Grand Canyon, despite its geological grandeur, was also a business opportunity. Moran was tasked with capturing the landscape's sublime beauty, and he delivered. Oil paint, with its capacity for blending and layering, allowed Moran to create a scene that is both realistic and romanticized, yet we cannot ignore the context of its creation. The painting is itself a product, skillfully crafted, meant to entice viewers, to invest in an experience tied to consumerism and the expansion of industry. Understanding the material and historical circumstances of an artwork’s creation allows us to consider it as more than just a pretty picture.