Thomas Moran (2)
Thomas Moran (1837â1926) was an American painter who helped sell the entire idea of the American West to the worldâlong before Instagram made landscapes cool. Born in England but raised in Pennsylvania, Moran found his true muse in the wild, untamed beauty of the American frontier. His dramatic, color-rich depictions of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and other sweeping landscapes didnât just turn headsâthey helped convince Congress to establish national parks. Thatâs right: art actually saved nature.
Moran was often called the âPainter of the Yellowstoneâ for good reason. In 1871, he tagged along on a government expedition to what was then largely uncharted Wyoming territory. The sketches and watercolors he brought back were so breathtaking, they played a direct role in making Yellowstone the first national park. But Moran didnât stop thereâhe went on to capture epic scenes from across the American West, often on a grand, cinematic scale. His paintings werenât just pretty pictures; they were invitations to wonder, wildness, and preservation. In a way, Moran helped Americans see their own backyard for the first timeâand it was glorious.
