The Devil's Den, Yellowstone

Thomas Moran's sketch of the Devil's Den thermal feature in Yellowstone captures the geothermal landscape with rapid pen strokes and wash. The composition emphasizes the dramatic rock formations and steaming vents characteristic of the region. Moran accompanied the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition in 1870, producing numerous sketches that documented Yellowstone's geological wonders. These field studies informed his larger paintings and contributed to visual documentation that supported the area's establishment as the first national park in 1872. The sketch demonstrates Moran's technique of layering line work with tonal washes to suggest volume and atmospheric effects in landscape drawing.