Albert Bierstadt, Mount Chocorua, New Hampshire, circa 1860 – 1862, oil on paper, 19 1/4 x 26 1/2 in. Collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Gift of the Carl J. Clarke Estate, by exchange, 1957 (7.23P) Photo by Cameron Gay
BiographyAlbert Bierstadt was best known for his dramatic and imposing landscapes of the wilderness in the American West. During his time, Bierstadt was criticized for his painting being overly dramatic and romantic. His artwork, though masterful and emotionally powerful, are also formulaic in their approach to composition. As the natural world becomes wilder and more dramatic, it recedes into the background, forming a separation between the empty wilderness and the presence of people. (Waguespack, 2018).