Alaskan Coast Range

Albert Bierstadt

1889

During a journey through British Columbia, Bierstadt traveled to Alaska by steamship in search of more dramatic and rugged landscapes. However, his trip unexpectedly ended with a shipwreck near Loring, Alaska. Taking refuge in a nearby Native American settlement, Bierstadt sketched the coastal landscapes of Alaska. It is believed that the painting was created based on an oil sketch the artist made at that time for further refinement and detailing.