Nebraska, On the Plain 1863

This small oil-on-paper sketch, "Nebraska, On the Plain," was made by Albert Bierstadt in the late 19th century. The thinness of the paint layer allows the paper's texture to subtly influence the scene. Look closely, and you can see the weave and grain beneath the brushstrokes. Bierstadt's technique here is important, because he had to be skilled in thinning the paint just right to produce such a delicate and translucent effect. He wants to evoke the vastness of the American West. The paper support itself is also suggestive: this wasn't a grand masterpiece made for the halls of high art. It’s a lightweight, portable study, made on-site or back in the studio, allowing the artist to record his impressions quickly and efficiently. Think about the labor that goes into not only creating the art, but the industrial production of paper that democratized drawing and painting materials during this time. It brings craft and industry together. So next time you look at a painting, remember that the materials and methods used are just as important as the subject matter itself.