Lower Fire Hole, Geyser Basin, Yellowstone

Thomas Moran's sketch captures the geothermal landscape of Yellowstone's Lower Fire Hole basin with his characteristic attention to atmospheric effects and geological drama. Working in graphite and wash, Moran documents the interplay of steaming geysers, forested ridges, and water features that define this extraordinary terrain. His field studies from the American West became foundational to how artists visualized and promoted the nation's nascent national parks, influencing both landscape painting and the public imagination of these natural wonders during the late nineteenth century.