The Afterglow, Grand Canyon, Arizona

Lucien Whiting Powell

National Gallery of Art

The painting shows a view of a vast canyon landscape. The horizon is near the top third of the composition, separating the land and the sky. The tops of the canyon walls are depicted in warm tones of red, orange, and brown. Bold and expressive brushstrokes capture the textures and depths of the canyon surfaces. The reds, oranges, and browns of the tops of the canyons contrast with deep blues and purples in the shadows of the canyon walls. The sky shows muted greenish and grayish tones, suggesting a setting sun casting warm light across the formations.