Introduction to the Anschutz Collection


The majestic beauty of mountains surrounded by vast landscapes and abundant resources, the vibrant light of the West, the natural inhabitants of the land in an environment wholly unspoiled by civilization. these were the attractions which captured the imaginations of a generation of pioneer artists and inspired them to move west in the early 19th century.
The West has always occupied a special place in the hearts and minds of Europeans since the first explorers opened the door to this "New World." Nearly two centuries after the first settlers arrived on the eastern shores of the continent, Americans began to feel the need for expansion in the wake of increases in both population and industrialization. Generally, the western boundaries of the nation were extended by projects such as the Louisiana Purchase, which in 1803, more than doubled the size of the United States.
Subsequently, the government organized expeditions and sent teams of surveyors westward to document and take inventory of its newly acquired lands. At the same time, artists were commissioned to accompany the expeditions in order to provide a visual counterpart to written documentaries. With brush in hand and a pioneering spirit, a number of artists left the academic and patron-centered art circles of the East Coast and set out on what was to be for many the greatest adventure of their lives. Exposed to the pristine beauty of the western landscape and inspired by native inhabitants, these artists captured and preserved on canvas a way of life that was quickly disappearing.
These visual documents from the western frontier were well-received on the East Coast and figured prominently in the way in which many generations conceived of the West. For instance, Seth Eastman's colorful scenes of the early West and Native American life led to the installment of a number of his paintings in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

The Hudson River School and the Romantics
Perhaps the most well-known artists to venture west during this period were associated with the famous Hudson River School, which took its name from the serene Hudson river landscape in upstate New York. These painters captured with precision the awe-inspiring peaks of the Rocky Mountains as well as the dramatic canyons of the Southwest. Worthington Whittredge was one such artist who journeyed from the Missouri Territory through present-day Colorado and New Mexico in 1865. Upon his return to the East, Whittredge used sketches from his travels to recreate landscapes of the West.
The next generation of painters to arrive in the West followed fast on the heels of the Hudson School artists. Thomas Moran and the other "Romantics" were also primarily concerned with landscape, but on a much larger scale. Moran's grand paintings of the upper Yellowstone River figured prominently in the decision by Congress to designate the Yellowstone region as the first national park in 1872. Another genre of artists active during the latter half of the century brilliantly captured the scenes of daily life and struggles between various groups of inhabitants. Following his graduation from Yale Art School, Frederic Remington was one such artists who moved to Kansas to operate his own sheep ranch. His experiences while in Kansas continued to inspire his work long after he returned to the East.

20th Century
In the early 20th century, driven by postwar disillusionment and a growing interest in the arts, colonies sprang up in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Led by Walter Ufer, Ernest Blumenschein and others, the Taos Society of artists formed the foundation of the Taos art colony when it united a small band of impressionistic painters. Although their techniques were increasingly modern, the Taos artists at this time turned to the earliest days of the pioneers for subject matter. Unlike many of their predecessors who mainly painted landscapes, these artists were primarily concerned with the human figure and portraiture. in the descendents of the Spanish colonists and the Native population of the Taos Pueblo, these artists found colorful and interesting subjects for their work.
Through the years, the West has been portrayed in many different ways as it was perceived through the eyes of artists. Contemporary artists such as K. Douglas Wiggins and R. L. Wogrin continue to shape our perceptions of the western United States as they endeavor to translate their own experiences into the visual medium. Historically the artist played an important role in the development of the American West, a part which has not diminished over time.
The Anschutz Collection contains a wide spectrum of work ranging from illustration to broadly painted landscapes to nearly abstract displays of form. Historically, the goal of the Collection has been to trace the development of the West from the perspective of artists who have visited and lived in a rapidly changing environment. And today, the purpose of the Collection remains the same--to gather excellent examples of the work of many artists over a wide range of styles and mediums to preserve the rich pictorial history of the American West.