"A Gorge in the Mountains (Kauterskill Clove)," Sanford Robinson Gifford, 1862.

Gifford (1823-1880) was a leader of the second generation of the Hudson River School, and also a leading practitioner of the Luminism style, which focused on soft light effects.

Although he traveled extensively to find great landscapes to paint, his most effective work was often done close to his New York home, such as this picture of a real gorge in the Catskills (although it's really called Kaaterskill Clove...). In later years he considered this one of his "chief pictures."

Kaaterskill Clove was, and is, popular with hikers and artists, and even in the 19th century it was quite a tourist spot, with the town of Palenville trying to pass itself off as the home of Rip van Winkle!

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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