Mt Taum Sauk 1772 ft Highest Point in State near Lesterville Missouri in Ozark Mtn Range c. 1965

Joseph Yoakum rendered "Mt Taum Sauk" on paper, presenting us with an image dominated by jagged mountain peaks and a humble dwelling nestled amidst the Ozark range. The mountains, rendered with sharp, almost aggressive lines, evoke a sense of untamed wilderness and power. These peaks, standing tall and unyielding, remind us of the human struggle against the sublime forces of nature. We see this same motif in the Romantic landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich, where solitary figures are dwarfed by monumental natural formations. But here, Yoakum integrates a house, hinting at the human desire to domesticate and find shelter within this grand, indifferent landscape. The house itself can be seen as an archetypal symbol of home and security, a haven against the outside world. However, its presence is unsettling; it feels vulnerable, as if swallowed by the landscape. The cyclical progression of nature's dominance versus humanity's desire for control resurfaces here, taking on new meanings within Yoakum's unique vision.