Accession Number1982/2.74
TitleThe Tetons and the Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Artist(s)Ansel AdamsArtist NationalityAmerican (North American)Object Creation Date1942, printed 1980-1982Medium & Supportgelatin silver print on paperDimensions 22 3/16 in x 28 1/16 in (56.36 cm x 71.28 cm);26 1/8 in x 32 1/8 in (66.36 cm x 81.6 cm)
Credit LineGift of Harry H. Lunn, Jr.Subject matterTaken from an elevated perspective, this photograph shows the Snake River winding through a mountainous valley. Coniferous trees cluster along its banks as it flows serpentine-like through the landscape, forming wide, graceful bends. In the distance, the jagged peaks of the Teton Mountains loom along the horizon, snow embedded in the crags of their summits. Above, a brooding expanse of clouds has begun to block out the sun, the last gleams of its radiance reflecting in the river below. While the landscape descends into shadow, these last rays of light are reflected brightly in the river’s surface, causing it to glisten in the darkening valley. This atmospheric shift and brooding mountain range create a dramatic mood, and lend the vast landscape a sublime majesty. Sharply focused, the image’s clarity offers a sumptuous array of textures, from the rippling of the river’s current, the vaporous movement of the clouds, to the barren crags of the mountains’ peaks.
Physical DescriptionThis photograph depicts an elevated, wide view of a curving river winding through a wooded valley, with snowcapped mountains rising in the distance. The sky above the landscape is filled with clouds.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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Keywords
Landscapes
clouds
lodgepole pine (wood)
modern and contemporary art
mountains
national parks
natural landscapes
nature photography
riverbanks
rivers
trees
woods