The Evening Hunter 1867

Thomas Moran created this landscape, The Evening Hunter, using oil paint, a medium that allows for rich colors and subtle gradations. Moran’s application of paint, particularly visible in the sky, showcases a blending technique to capture the fleeting light of dusk. The material properties of oil paint—its viscosity and drying time—enabled Moran to build up layers, creating depth and texture across the canvas. Look at the way he has used these qualities to depict the rocks and foliage with a tactile realism. The brushwork here is quite traditional, consistent with the broader history of landscape painting, yet it also hints at the industrial context of its creation. The paint itself, commercially produced and readily available, reflects the rise of consumer culture in the late 19th century. Moran’s choice of subject matter—a serene landscape—is a testament to the value placed on the natural world. However, it also speaks to a certain romantic ideal, obscuring the realities of labor and resource extraction that were transforming the American landscape.