Who painted Green River, Wyoming Territory?

Green River, Wyoming Territory was painted by Thomas Moran in 1886.

Where can I see Green River, Wyoming Territory?

Green River, Wyoming Territory is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Green River, Wyoming Territory?

Green River, Wyoming Territory is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Green River, Wyoming Territory?

Museum-quality prints of Green River, Wyoming Territory are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Green River, Wyoming Territory

Thomas Moran , 1886

Green River, Wyoming Territory is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Thomas Moran. It dates from 1886 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: TM [artist's monogram] Copyright 1886; lower right edge in graphite by unknown hand: Thomas Moran
Markings: Marked:stamped center verso in black ink: F.B.B. [circled]

About this work

Overview

Created in 1886, Green River, Wyoming Territory is an etching executed in brown on laid paper. The work presents a tranquil river winding through a rugged landscape, framed by steep cliffs on the left and a solitary tree on the right. Small figures gather on the shore, while a towering rock formation rises in the background, all rendered in muted, earth‑toned lines.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a moment of quiet wilderness in the American West, emphasizing the interplay between water, rock, and sparse vegetation. The presence of a few people suggests a fleeting human encounter with the vast, untouched terrain, underscoring the 19th‑century fascination with frontier exploration and the sublime qualities of the landscape.

Technique & Style

Moran employed fine, closely spaced lines to model the surface of the water, the texture of reeds, and the rugged cliffs. The brown tonal range, achieved through multiple acid bites and careful inking, creates subtle gradations of light and shadow typical of 19th‑century landscape etchings. The laid paper surface adds a tactile quality that enhances the work’s atmospheric depth.

History & Provenance

Earlier in his career he served as chief illustrator for Scribner’s Monthly, a position that informed his detailed approach to natural subjects.

Thomas Moran, known for his Rocky Mountain scenes, produced the print while based in New York, where he worked alongside his wife, printmaker Mary Nimmo Moran, and their daughter Ruth. Earlier in his career he served as chief illustrator for Scribner’s Monthly, a position that informed his detailed approach to natural subjects. The etching entered the market shortly after its creation and has since been held in several American institutional collections.

Green River, Wyoming Territory, Thomas Moran

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Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Moran

Thomas Moran (February 12, 1837 – August 25, 1926) was an American painter and printmaker of the Hudson River School in New York whose work often featured the Rocky Mountains.