Albert Bierstadt
Albert Bierstadt was a skilled artist best known for his depictions of the western United States. He was born in Solingen, Prussia, in 1830 and spent formative years in Massachusetts. He was a self-taught artist and provided drawing lessons early in his career before he obtained a formal art education in Dusseldorf. His time in Germany transformed him fundamentally on both a professional level and on a personal front. Upon his return from Europe, he traveled extensively in the western region of the United States and shortly thereafter began to exhibit his series of "Western" paintings.
During his travels, Bierstadt's visited some of the most picturesque locations in California and created an exceptional visual record of his travels. This painting is from his travels to the Farallon Islands near Northern California. Although this is a little different from his usual awe-inspiring landscapes, it shares the dramatic quality of his works. Here the drama is in the choppy waters of the Pacific Ocean. An oversized wave on the right dominates the composition and there are three seals on the rocks in the foreground, three in the water, one that just caught a fish, and rocks in the background that are covered with many more seals.
- Maya Tola
P.S. Visual artists like Albert Bierstadt have explored many themes to convey drama on canvas. Let’s explore some dramatic scenes in art; click here!
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