Excelsior Geyser, Yellowstone Park 1873

Thomas Moran created "Excelsior Geyser, Yellowstone Park" to capture the sublime vastness of the American West. Painted during a time of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny, Moran's landscapes played a role in shaping perceptions of the frontier. His work invites us to consider the complex relationship between the land, its indigenous populations, and the settlers who sought to claim it. Moran does not include these people in this vista. Instead, he directs the gaze onto the land itself. This watercolor presents a vision of untamed wilderness which served to promote both national pride and the agenda of territorial expansion. Moran's geyser becomes a symbol, not just of natural wonder, but of the opportunities and challenges facing a nation forging its identity. In this context, this geyser is a symbol of untamed power and the complex history of landscape, identity, and nationhood.