Scene in the Arctic
William Bradford (ca. 1880)
Have you ever been on a great adventure?
The horizontal expanse of this scene exaggerates the openness of the uncharted Arctic. A single ship among icebergs became Bradford’s best-known subject, and he painted from personal experience and photographs of Arctic expeditions. He participated in several explorations—opportunities he used to study nature, glaciers, and icebergs for later inclusion in his paintings.
\ Artist
William Bradford
American
Born:
1823
Died:
1892
Death place:
New York City, New York
William Bradford meticulously documented the Arctic in photographs during his expeditions. Photography lent credibility to the artist’s claims of a truthful representation of nature, and professional photographers accompanied him on every trip from 1863 onward. Bradford saw photography’s potential to bridge the gap between art and science, and he became one of the first artists to champion—and heavily rely on—this new medium.
\ About
Medium
Oil on canvas
Credit
Gift of Agnes van Eck Reed