Romanticising Untamed Nature
In the year 1874 the romanticism movement was gaining a lot of pupularity. Paintings like this one were meant to show the beauty of the American fronteir and untamed beauty. Romanticism is meant to emphasize emotion, the sublime, and reverance for nature. Bierstadt wanted to sparka emotional response with his artwork. In this painting he represents nature as a place of solitude, reflection, and spiritual transcendence. The untouched nature is meant to pull viewers into the scene and give them a sense of escape and wonder.
A Hidden Onlooker
Bierstadt had a tendency to add small animals or people into his paintings. He liked to hide them amongst the foliage, making them look small compared to the atmosphere around them. He did this to emphasize the romantic theme of natures dominance over mankind.
Cliffs Framing the Valley
The way Bierstadt painted these cliffs was to axagerate the scale of the landscape to make it seem even more majestic than it already is. Bierstadt had a tendency to do this to objects in many of his paintings. The way he would add animals and people in a drastically smaller scale was to also bring more attention to the beauty of the landscape.
The Use of Luminism
Albert Bierstadt was known for using a luminous style in his artwork. He uses what is known as luminism in his work to highlight the interplay of light and atmosphere. Bierstadt used these techniques to enhance the emotional and visual impact of his scenes. He uses luminism in most of his work, but in this piece specifically he used hazy and distant horizons to create depth which made his landscapes appear vast and infinite in a way. Bierstadt used radiant light to highlight the untouched beauty of the valley.
Albert Bierstadt, Hetch Hetchy Valley, California, c. 1874–80, oil on canvas
Monroe, Erin, Wadsworth. "Albert Bierstadt, Hetch Hetchy Valley, California." Smart History, 21 December 2018, https://smarthistory.org/bierstadt-hetch-hetchy-valley/
Gerdts, William H. "The Hetch Hetchy Valley." Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, 2012, https://cdaartauction.com/auction/2012/lot/17409?order=results
Thomas, Rick. "Hetch Hetchy Reservoir." In Time and Place, 2008, https://www.intimeandplace.org/HetchHetchy/
Waters Reflection
Looking at the water it is obvious that the atmosphere around it is reflection off of it. Albert Bierstadt did this with intention to add to the serenity and balance of the scene. The water was depicted to be still and glass-like which is a clear indication of luminism, which emphasizes calmness and clarity within a space.
The Mystery of Light
This painting has a way of making one wonder where the light must be coming from. There is no clear inication as to where the sun may be shining. Bierstadt often used a central light source which would cause this soft glow to be cast over the valley. The sunlight was meant to shine in a certain way through the clouds and the mist to create a divine illumination. The golden hues in the sky and how they seem to contrast with the colors on the landscape are meant to enhance the depth of the scene.
Kayla Schmidt - Hetch Hetchy Valley Albert Bierstadt
Kayla Schmidt
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Transcript
Romanticising Untamed Nature
In the year 1874 the romanticism movement was gaining a lot of pupularity. Paintings like this one were meant to show the beauty of the American fronteir and untamed beauty. Romanticism is meant to emphasize emotion, the sublime, and reverance for nature. Bierstadt wanted to sparka emotional response with his artwork. In this painting he represents nature as a place of solitude, reflection, and spiritual transcendence. The untouched nature is meant to pull viewers into the scene and give them a sense of escape and wonder.
A Hidden Onlooker
Bierstadt had a tendency to add small animals or people into his paintings. He liked to hide them amongst the foliage, making them look small compared to the atmosphere around them. He did this to emphasize the romantic theme of natures dominance over mankind.
Cliffs Framing the Valley
The way Bierstadt painted these cliffs was to axagerate the scale of the landscape to make it seem even more majestic than it already is. Bierstadt had a tendency to do this to objects in many of his paintings. The way he would add animals and people in a drastically smaller scale was to also bring more attention to the beauty of the landscape.
The Use of Luminism
Albert Bierstadt was known for using a luminous style in his artwork. He uses what is known as luminism in his work to highlight the interplay of light and atmosphere. Bierstadt used these techniques to enhance the emotional and visual impact of his scenes. He uses luminism in most of his work, but in this piece specifically he used hazy and distant horizons to create depth which made his landscapes appear vast and infinite in a way. Bierstadt used radiant light to highlight the untouched beauty of the valley.
Albert Bierstadt, Hetch Hetchy Valley, California, c. 1874–80, oil on canvas
Monroe, Erin, Wadsworth. "Albert Bierstadt, Hetch Hetchy Valley, California." Smart History, 21 December 2018, https://smarthistory.org/bierstadt-hetch-hetchy-valley/
Gerdts, William H. "The Hetch Hetchy Valley." Coeur d’Alene Art Auction, 2012, https://cdaartauction.com/auction/2012/lot/17409?order=results
Thomas, Rick. "Hetch Hetchy Reservoir." In Time and Place, 2008, https://www.intimeandplace.org/HetchHetchy/
Waters Reflection
Looking at the water it is obvious that the atmosphere around it is reflection off of it. Albert Bierstadt did this with intention to add to the serenity and balance of the scene. The water was depicted to be still and glass-like which is a clear indication of luminism, which emphasizes calmness and clarity within a space.
The Mystery of Light
This painting has a way of making one wonder where the light must be coming from. There is no clear inication as to where the sun may be shining. Bierstadt often used a central light source which would cause this soft glow to be cast over the valley. The sunlight was meant to shine in a certain way through the clouds and the mist to create a divine illumination. The golden hues in the sky and how they seem to contrast with the colors on the landscape are meant to enhance the depth of the scene.