First Sketch Made in the West at Green River, Wyoming 1871

Thomas Moran's "First Sketch Made in the West at Green River, Wyoming" is a captivating watercolor depicting the rugged beauty of the American West. Painted in 1871, this early work showcases Moran's distinctive use of light and color to capture the dramatic landscape of Wyoming. The sketch features a winding river snaking through a vast, arid expanse, leading the viewer's eye towards towering, rocky formations that dominate the horizon. This early sketch, created on location, foreshadows Moran's later, more expansive landscape paintings that would become synonymous with the American West.