A California Forest 1888

Mary Nimmo Moran made this etching, "A California Forest," at some point during her career. Moran was part of a late-19th century etching revival in the United States and in Europe. This was a period when the medium gained new status after being mostly used for commercial purposes. Moran and other artists formed etching clubs and societies to promote the technique as a form of fine art. They produced images that often celebrated the natural landscape. Here, Moran depicts the majesty of the California woods. Note how the composition directs our attention to the figures in the background, inviting contemplation of nature's grandeur. To understand this work fully, we need to know about the rise of conservationism in America at this time, as well as the changing role of women in the arts. Archival materials, exhibition catalogs, and period publications can reveal the social and institutional contexts that shaped the production and reception of such images.