{"product_id":"gunnar-widforss-painter-of-the-national-parks","title":"Gunnar Widforss: Painter of the National Parks","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGunnar Widforss: Painter of the National Parks\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of Swedish-American painter Gunnar Widforss (1879, Stockholm - 1934, Grand Canyon) who during the 1920s and 1930s was known as The Painter of the National Parks for the subjects that he focused on. He acquired the honorific title as the result of his friendship with Stephen Mather, the first director of the National Park Service. Early in his career, Widforss worked in Europe, primarily the Côte d'Azur and Tyrolean Alps, as well as Sweden. He developed his technical skill with watercolor, his preferred medium, painting landscapes and scenes frequented by tourists who provided a ready audience for his work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Widforss came to the United States in 1921, he had considerable ability and was in search of challenging subjects. Initially, he found the challenge in Yosemite National Park where he worked both in the valley and in the High Sierra. It was there that he met Stephen Mather who, impressed with his skill, commissioned him to do a number of paintings of recently established Zion National Park. That led Widforss to Grand Canyon, which would become his favorite subject and, along with Yosemite, the one he is best known for.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnlike his contemporaries, Widforss made adventurous hikes into Grand Canyon capturing it from previously un-addressed perspectives. The Santa Fe Railway purchased ten of his Grand Canyon paintings for their collection that were used for a variety of marketing materials and travel brochures. He also worked with Park Service personnel on several projects including the Yavapai Geology Museum and the 1934 Chicago Century of Progress International Exposition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidforss never resorted to sentimental or romanticized depictions so prevalent in depictions of western subjects. The story of his life and work is one of great triumph in realistic painting, and his current anonymity is a compelling story of a Swedish expatriate who fell in love with the landscapes of the American West. He is one of the greatest artists to paint the American West and, despite his widespread recognition as The Painter of the National Parks in the early 20th century, his present-day obscurity is a paradox.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWidforss' enduring story is one of an artist living a classical bohemian life utterly devoted to his art. When he came to the United States in 1921, his primary focus became the great parks of the American West. There, he adapted his style to the great spaces and monumental landforms while reflecting the values of Swedish National Romanticism, which in many ways echo the same values that led to the creation of our national parks. When Stephen Mather asked Widforss to focus on the parks, he knew what he was doing. Widforss' approach and passion perfectly complemented Mather's vision for the timeless nature of these most treasured landscapes. Perhaps more than any other artist to address our national parks, Gunnar Widforss chose and painted timeless subjects that that are now an essential element of America's heritage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alan Petersen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":67890484379965,"sku":null,"price":29.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0477\/8731\/1254\/files\/9798997571733ita.jpg?v=1793659414","url":"https:\/\/itascabooks.com\/products\/gunnar-widforss-painter-of-the-national-parks","provider":"Itasca Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}