Lower Falls of the South Fork, Gardiner's River

Thomas Moran's sketch captures the dramatic cascade of Yellowstone's Lower Falls with characteristic energy. The composition centers on the plunging water and surrounding forest, rendered in quick pen strokes that suggest movement and atmosphere. Moran (1837–1926) made numerous studies of Yellowstone following his 1871 expedition with the U.S. Geological Survey. These sketches and finished paintings were instrumental in establishing the region as a national treasure. The artist's ability to translate vast landscapes into intimate, portable studies influenced how Americans visualized and understood their western wilderness.