Art Analysis: Among the Sierra Nevada, California

 Among the Sierra Nevada, California:

The oil painting that I chose to analyze, was the Among the Sierra Nevada, California, which was painted by Albert Bierstadt, in 1868. I personally love this oil painting because it looks so realistic. Even though, it is an oil painting, it looks like it is a picture that was taken with a camera. I like the painting, because it has huge, rocky mountains that are lit-up, with several different waterfalls flowing into a lake. It also has some beautiful, green trees, and some super good looking clouds. On top of all this, it has several dear or elk that are gathered together, by the lake.

Color

The color in this painting, really added to the distance in the painting. You can see that the bottom, right trees in the painting help us to know where the sunlight is coming from. The bottom, right of the trees are dark green, while the top, left of the trees have been painted with a lighter green. The grass below, and to the right of the trees is also darker to show that a shadow is there. This helps us to know that the sunlight is hitting the trees from an angle. We can see that the sun is not directly above the trees, but that it is set back a ways in the distance. Color is also used on the big, flat, mountain, located on the left of the painting. There is a streak of light, starting at the top of the tallest waterfall, heading down, and to the left, so that we can see where the sun is coming from, which also allows us to see that the sun is set back a ways, in the distance. The sides of the mountains that are facing us, are darker, so that we can, once again, know that the sun is set back. 

Lines

It was unintentional, because the painting is photo-real, but I would say that Albert Bierstadt uses specific kinds of lines in his painting, to convey different things. He uses vertical lines for the waterfalls, to express that the mountains are really tall. He also uses a long, horizontal line, at the bottom of the mountains, where the lake begins, to express distance, and calmness. This helps us to realize that the lake, and the mountains are big. It also helps us to know that the things in his painting are calm. This is nice, because it can help us to realize that the earth is so big. There is so much nature that we can explore, without the sounds of a noisy city. It helps us to know that we can go out and explore the huge world. There are places where there is nothing, but the sound of nature, and the sightings of wild animals in their natural habitat.

Texture

Albert Bierstadt used quite a bit of texture in his oil painting, so that it would look more realistic. He uses texture to show that the mountains are rough, and jagged. The use of texture allows us to see all of the different branches of the trees.

Overall, Albert Bierstadt uses a bunch of different techniques in the painting, so that we can see it as a realistic painting of the outdoors. He makes sure to help us know that there are so many huge, beautiful, peaceful areas that we can go to, in order to enjoy the outdoors, and the wildlife.

The original painting can be found in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but there have been copies made for people to buy. I do not personally have a copy, but I would like to have a copy hung on my bedroom wall. The Smithsonian American Art Museum explains that those sort of paintings had "fueled the image of America as a promised land just when Europeans were immigrating to this country in great numbers." He was trying to show people how beautiful America can be and I would have to agree with him.

Citations

“Among the Sierra Nevada, California.” Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2015, https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/among-sierra-nevada-california-2059#:~:text=Bierstadt%20painted%20Among%20the%20Sierra,this%20country%20in%20great%20numbers.

Bierstadt, Albert. “Among the Sierra Nevada, California.” Smarthistory, https://smarthistory.org/walter-de-maria-the-lightning-field/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2022.