Bierstadt: Stereoscopic Images

In the fall of 1859, an art journal, The Crayon, reported: “Bierstadt has returned lately from the Rocky Mountains…and has brought with him much material in sketches, photographs, and stereoscopic views.”

Bierstadt used photographs made on the trail as part of his artistic process. In paintings like The Rocky Mountains, Lander’s Peak, he likely used stereocards to help him recall details of western lands and people he encountered on the Lander Expedition.

Six reproduction photographs in the special exhibition space were originally made on the Lander Expedition. Some are closely related to paintings in this area of the exhibition.