Among the Sierra Nevada, California | Albert Bierstadt | 1868 Francesco Hayez It’s not a painting about

It’s not a painting about divine spectacle

such a kiss could mark the end of a conflict

Rothko aimed to create a direct

painted circa 1597-1599

This ambiguity strengthens the painting’s impact

Among the Sierra Nevada, California | Albert Bierstadt | 1868 Francesco Hayez It’s not a painting aboutAbout the artwork: Among the Sierra Nevada, California (1868) by Albert Bierstadt presents an idealized vision of the American West, where towering mountains, glowing light, calm waters, and grazing deer create a scene of almost perfect harmony. Rather than depicting one exact location, Bierstadt combined sketches and impressions from his travels to construct a dramatic landscape that reflects the nineteenth century Romantic idea of the sublime: