View of Mount Baker (from Sketchbook) 1890

Albert Bierstadt sketched this view of Mount Baker with graphite on paper. The stark mountain, shrouded in white, evokes a primal image, echoing the symbolism of mountains across cultures as places of spiritual elevation. Think of Mount Olympus, home to the Greek gods, or Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Here, Mount Baker stands as a similar, almost divine presence. This depiction of the mountain also stirs a deep emotional response within us. The mountain, with its imposing height, is a potent symbol of the sublime. It reminds us of nature's power to inspire awe and fear, a dual emotion that has been a recurring theme in art since the Romantic era. The mountain endures, and its symbolic power continues to resonate, resurfacing in various forms across time and cultures.