The Teton Range from the East

Thomas Moran's pencil sketch captures the dramatic peaks of the Teton Range rising from forested valleys. The composition demonstrates Moran's systematic approach to landscape study—careful observation of geological formations, atmospheric perspective, and the interplay of light across mountain terrain. A prolific painter and printmaker, Moran traveled extensively throughout the American West in the late nineteenth century, producing field studies and finished works that helped shape popular perception of the region's grandeur. This sketch exemplifies the working methods of Hudson River School artists who used direct observation as foundation for large-scale studio paintings.