The artwork titled “First Sketch Made in the West at Green River, Wyoming” was created by Thomas Moran in 1871. It belongs to the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of sketch and study.
The artwork depicts a serene landscape characteristic of the American West during the 19th century. The foreground features a meandering river, reflecting the golden hues of the surrounding terrain. Along the riverbank, a few clusters of dark trees provide a contrast to the luminous, arid ground. Beyond the river, one can observe towering rock formations, bathed in subdued, warm tones that evoke a sense of majestic tranquility. The sky, an expansive backdrop, is rendered with delicate variations of light and color, adding an almost ethereal quality to the scene. The sketch’s subtle details and dynamic composition highlight the artist’s evocative interpretation of the natural beauty found in Green River, Wyoming.