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

It’s not a painting about divine spectacle

and its relatively small scale makes its expressive force even more impressive

such as the imprisonment of Apaches in Florida

This ambiguity strengthens the painting’s impact

directing attention to Kahlo's confident gaze

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: