Hot Springs, Yellowstone

Thomas Moran's watercolor sketch captures the geothermal landscape of Yellowstone's hot springs with characteristic precision. Moran combines ink line work with selective color washes—blue for water features, rust and ochre for mineral deposits and rocky formations. The composition moves horizontally across the page, with mountain ridges framing the scene. Sketches of trees and vegetation frame the valley in ink alone. Moran's method of combining detailed drawing with selective watercolor washes became his signature approach to recording Western scenery during multiple expeditions. His field studies directly informed his large exhibition paintings and reinforced Yellowstone's visual identity for Eastern audiences during the early era of American landscape tourism.