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Owens Valley, California

Albert Bierstadt American

1872

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 765

Bierstadt traveled on an extended trip out West in the summer of 1872, which included a return visit to the Yosemite region where he took the sketch of Owens Valley, California. He captured the Owens River in the foreground with the newly discovered Mount Whitney looming in the background. Pockets of white snow run across the mountain range. By 1913, the picturesque Owens River water was diverted to Los Angeles, eventually leading to the destruction of the rich agricultural economy of Owen’s Valley. This conflict came to be known as the "California Water Wars."

Owens Valley, California, Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York), Oil on paper laid down on canvas, American — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Owens Valley, California, Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York), Oil on paper laid down on canvas, American

Owens Valley, California, Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York), Oil on paper laid down on canvas, American

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Owens Valley, California

Maker: Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)

Date: 1872

Geography: Country of Origin United States

Culture: American

Medium: Oil on paper laid down on canvas

Dimensions: 14 ¼ x 19 inches
Framed: 24 ¼ x 29 ½ inches

Credit Line: Promised Gift of Barrie A. and Deedee Wigmore

Object Number: L.2024.16.2

The Met

The American Wing at The Met

The American Wing's ever-evolving collection comprises some 20,000 works by African American, Euro American, Native American, and Latin American artists, ranging from the colonial to early-modern period.