New Geyser, Norris Basin

Thomas Moran's sketch captures a geothermal eruption in Yellowstone's Norris Basin with characteristic precision. Moran, the English-born landscape painter who traveled west with the U.S. Geological Survey, rendered the scene in pen and wash, depicting the geyser's explosive spray against a barren terrain of rock formations and steam vents. His field studies and finished paintings of Yellowstone helped establish the region's geological and scenic importance during America's early conservation era. The work demonstrates Moran's ability to convey both topographical accuracy and the sublime drama of natural forces.