Critique - The Oregon Trail by Albert Bierstadt 1869
by Eric Tilden
Published: 2009-07-10, Fri 09:24:58
Overview
Albert Bierstadt was an American Landscape Painter who lived from 1830 to 1902. He is famous for painting some of the most beautiful scenes from around the American continent. One such scene is entitled, The Oregon Trail, completed in 1869. The following article is a critique of The Oregon Trail, by Albert Bierstadt.
Subject Matter
The Oregon Trail depicts a scene along a river. A rich, orange glow emanates from the large bonfire in the lower center of the painting. Several men in large hats are seen gathering around the fire, and one is bringing a large stack of branches to keep the blaze going. Another is hauling a small bucket in each arm. A white horse stands next to a covered wagon, clearly marked with their destination: For Oregon. A woman and another figure kneel along the river bank, the woman facing toward the viewers, but looking at the second figure. The second figure, a mere silhouette with his or her back pointed toward the audience. Two figures in hats can be seen on the dark side of the covered wagon, in some kind of conversation away from the fire. Cropped along the left edge of the canvas is another covered wagon, barely visible in the firelight. The partly-cloudy sky forms a slight haze over the full moon, peeking around the trees.
Composition
This piece is composed around the bonfire, which is the main focal point of the piece. Bierstadt created an intense light, which competes with the moon for attention, winning gloriously. To add insult to injury, Bierstadt guarantees that the firelight will overpower the moon by angling the largest tree downward, which connects the fire and moon. The numerous figures create rhythm, which balances the rhythm of the trees.
Color Scheme
The color scheme is a complementary scheme. Those within the firelight are painted with bright oranges and browns. The most intense light is painted with a bright yellow – the heart of the fire. The oranges are balanced with the light from the moon, which illuminates the upper and far left with a blue-green hue, contrasting the orange, yet complementing to the yellow in the heart of the fire. As one distances themselves from the fire, warm reds highlight the trees, the faces of the people along the river’s edge, the blanket that sits alongside of the covered wagon, and the barely visible covered wagon at the far left. The intense yellow only gives the fire its intensity, but it crawls outward, up the large tree, and reaches toward the pale horse, blanketing it in patches of yellow.
Historical Context
The Oregon trail was the only overland transportation route available before the transcontinental railroad was built in 1869. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman discovered the trail in 1836. The first mass migration didn’t occur, however, until 1843. The trail was used exclusively until the railroad was built. The trip saved the settlers 6-8 months travel time, for the only alternative route was by sea, which took nearly a year. The settlers would wait until grass began to grow, in order for their cattle to have enough pasture to graze along the way. If they went to early, their cattle died of starvation, if they left too late, they ran into heavy snow.
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