1960.145 Ernest Blumenschein, Mountains near Taos


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
Mountains Near Taos depicts a small settlement nestled between Taos Mountain and the gorge of the Rio Grande. The clear, vibrant colors capture the raking light of afternoon, throwing into high relief the contours and textures of the land. The undulating repetition across the canvas of landforms and masses of trees reflects the centuries-old rhythms of life in this harsh but beautiful country. Ernest Blumenschein worked on this canvas intermittently, knitting together the forms and colors as his artistic vision evolved over an eight-year period. 

The region’s scenery captivated Blumenschein, who first discovered Taos in 1897–98, when McClure’s magazine sent him there on a sketching trip. In 1898 he co-founded an artist’s colony there, which thrived in the early 20th century. After 1919, the artist and his family moved permanently to Taos. 

Excerpt from
Sue Canterbury, DMA label text, 2013

NOTES
Created 1926-1934

Object File reviewed

Alexandre Hogue would visit Taos starting 1926 and became close friends with Blumenschein

Bibliography:
  • Eleanor Jones Harvey and Lyle C. Gray, American Art Review, Highlighting Texas Museums & American Collections, (Kansas City, MO: American Arts Media, Inc., 2001) p. 137.
  • Southwestern Art: A Sampling of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, 1960) cat. no. 26, b/w illus.: n.p.
  • "Southwest Art, 1960," DMFA catalogue

Exhibitions:
  • In Contemporary Rhythm: The Art of Ernest L. Blumenschein, Albuquerque Museum of Art (06/08/2008 to 08/31/2008) Denver Art Museum (11/15/2008 to 02/15/2009) Phoenix Art Museum (03/15/2009 to 06/15/2009)
  • Enchanted: Taos Art in Texas Collections, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (09/05/1998 to 11/15/1998)
  • Inspired by the Land: The Taos Society of Artists, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (09/11/1986 to 10/19/1986)
  • Long-term Loan (Dallas City Hall, 1978) 

Catalogue essay


Artist/designers
Blumenschein, Ernest (American, 1874-1960)

Cultures

Geography 
Depicted location and place of origin: Taos (New Mexico/United States): TGN: 7014564

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
From 1960: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Helen Blumenschein [1]

[1]  The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES 

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1960.45

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General Description
 
Mountains Near Taos depicts a small settlement nestled between Taos Mountain and the gorge of the Rio Grande. The clear, vibrant colors capture the raking light of afternoon, throwing into high relief the contours and textures of the land. The undulating repetition across the canvas of landforms and masses of trees reflects the centuries-old rhythms of life in this harsh but beautiful country. Ernest Blumenschein worked on this canvas intermittently, knitting together the forms and colors as his artistic vision evolved over an eight-year period. 

The region’s scenery captivated Blumenschein, who first discovered Taos in 1897–98, when McClure’s magazine sent him there on a sketching trip. In 1898 he co-founded an artist’s colony there, which thrived in the early 20th century. After 1919, the artist and his family moved permanently to Taos. 

Excerpt from
Sue Canterbury, DMA label text, 2013

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 

Notes
Created 1926-1934

Object File reviewed

Alexandre Hogue would visit Taos starting 1926 and became close friends with Blumenschein

Bibliography:
  • Eleanor Jones Harvey and Lyle C. Gray, American Art Review, Highlighting Texas Museums & American Collections, (Kansas City, MO: American Arts Media, Inc., 2001) p. 137.
  • Southwestern Art: A Sampling of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, 1960) cat. no. 26, b/w illus.: n.p.
  • "Southwest Art, 1960," DMFA catalogue

Exhibitions:
  • In Contemporary Rhythm: The Art of Ernest L. Blumenschein, Albuquerque Museum of Art (06/08/2008 to 08/31/2008) Denver Art Museum (11/15/2008 to 02/15/2009) Phoenix Art Museum (03/15/2009 to 06/15/2009)
  • Enchanted: Taos Art in Texas Collections, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (09/05/1998 to 11/15/1998)
  • Inspired by the Land: The Taos Society of Artists, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts (09/11/1986 to 10/19/1986)
  • Long-term Loan (Dallas City Hall, 1978) 

Catalogue essay


Artist/designers
Blumenschein, Ernest (American, 1874-1960)

Cultures

Geography 
Depicted location and place of origin: Taos (New Mexico/United States): TGN: 7014564

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
From 1960: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift of Helen Blumenschein [1]

[1]  The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1960.45
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
%Archived
landscapes (representations): AAT: 300015636
trees (plants): AAT: 300132410
*American Art
sky: AAT: 300263064
@Russell
blue (color): AAT: 300129361
houses: AAT: 300005433
mountains: AAT: 300008795
clouds: AAT: 300343840
brown (color): AAT: 300127490
buildings (structures): AAT: 300004792
cliffs (landform): AAT: 300008749
Taos (New Mexico/United States): TGN: 7014564
Blumenschein_Ernest Leonard: ULAN: 500043511
source file
object_notes_3_a-0248.xml.nores