Looking Up the Yosemite Valley, Albert Bierstadt

During the summer of 1863, Albert Bierstadt spent some time visiting Yosemite National Park, where he produced a number of breathtaking paintings of the area’s scenic natural landscape, including ‘Looking Up the Yosemite Valley’, which depicts the western side of the vale.

Bierstadt used clever painting techniques to establish the strong contrast that would create a distinct perception of ‘Looking Up the Yosemite Valley’. In the foreground, a horse and a figure are portrayed near small rocks, a small pond and sparse foliage. The artist purposefully chose to set these shapes in miniature form and in shadow against a brightly-lit yellow and white background of majestic mountains and verdant trees. As a result, the contrast not only emphasizes the enormity and splendour of the landscape, but also amplifies the viewers’ awesome perception of the Yosemite Valley.

The figure beside the horse appears to be an artist, perhaps sketching his first outlines of the beautiful scene before him. One has to wonder if the artist is none other than Albert Bierstadt himself.

About the Artist

Albert Bierstadt, a German-born American painter, is famously known for his scenic paintings of the American West. He was a member of the Hudson River School, but his work also shows the influence and skill acquired from the Dusseldorf School of Painting in Germany.