Tourist Guide

Pure Nature

The second painting that caught my attention was Albert Bierstadt’s “A Storm in the Rocky Mountains.”  Landscape painting of the raw, untouched wild has always had a special effect on me. The sheer level of depth and detail in this painting make it hard to believe that it was created with a simple brush. The perspective that Bierstadt chose is also very interesting, as you can see the violent, dark storm in the distance, yet the clouds are still white and the sun is still bright and shining closer to the viewer. This contrast of moods created conflicting emotions within me. In my interpretation, besides simply depicting the Rocky Mountains, this painting also shows the constant balance between the positive and the negative essences of our world. Another interesting aspect of the painting is that even though the viewer can clearly see that the storm will soon hit this peaceful part of the mountain, it will undoubtedly pass, just as it did over the peak of the mountain visible in the background behind the storm. Perhaps this too points to the natural cycle of constant change yet preservation that’s present in our world. Landscape painting such as this amaze me in that they not only allow you to marvel at the mystical beauty of nature, but can also provoke deep, philosophical thoughts as to the nature of our planet.