Fifth Lake
ca. 1928
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Henry Ward Ranger through the National Academy of Design
Accession Number
1957.10.6
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Fifth Lake**, painted around 1928 by Edgar Payne, the serene majesty of the American West's natural wonders. Depicting a tranquil lake nestled amid dense forests and towering mountains, oil painting evokes the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada, where Payne frequently traveled for inspiration. As a master of landscape art, Payne—often called the "Dean of the High Sierras"—immortalized these scenes during his plein air expeditions, blending observation with a deep reverence for nature's drama. Payne's style draws from Impressionism and Tonalism, employing loose, vibrant brushstrokes to conve...