Caribou in the Mountains, 1878

Provenance

Sale, Sotheby’s, New York, New York, May 31, 1984, lot 121
Edith Altschul Graham(1917–2003), Stamform, Connecticut, acquired from above
Estate of the above
Sale, Christie’s, New York, New York, November 30, 2006, lot 118, from above
Private collection
Sale, Christie’s, New York, New York, January 23, 2025, lot 227, from above

Related Works

Winona Falls, 1877, oil on canvas, 28 x 22 ½ inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri
Landscape, oil on canvas, 24 x 31 inches; University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Note

Herzog was an outstanding landscape painter as well as an adventurous traveler. Born in Germany, he had painted nearly the entire European continent before the age of 40. In 1869, he immigrated to the United States, where he discovered a pristine landscape untouched by historical imprints, inspiring him to embark on a journey to explore the American continent.
Caribou in the Mountains demonstrates Herzog’s profound understanding and passion for natural landscapes. His faithful depictions of the snow and rocks are rendered with astonishing texture under the interplay of light and shadow. A herd of caribou moves along a winding path, as if guiding the audience into this untamed wilderness. Through his masterful technique, Herzog captures the tranquility and grandeur of nature, evoking a longing for untouched, pristine landscapes.