In The Yosemite Valley 

Albert Bierstadt captured this scene in the Yosemite Valley with oil on canvas. Look closely and you'll see how the materiality of oil paint allows Bierstadt to build up layers of color and texture. The brushstrokes, particularly in the foliage, suggest movement and life, embodying a sense of natural, untouched wilderness. This reflects the influence of the Hudson River School, and its romanticized views of the American landscape. Bierstadt's work was not just about depicting nature; it was also about promoting it. These paintings, with their dramatic light and scale, played a role in the conservation movement. They served as visual arguments for preserving these natural wonders, even as industrialization and westward expansion threatened them. There's also a more critical view, which sees these paintings as promoting a capitalist exploitation of the land, framing it as a resource to be admired and consumed. So, the next time you look at a landscape painting, consider the materials and processes that brought it to life. Think about the social and cultural context in which it was made. You will gain a richer, more complex understanding of its meaning and legacy.