Falls at center. Couple in foreground to right standing along riverbank admiring falls. Man holds walking stick in his proper left hand.
Even in the stillness of winter the Bastion Falls appear to flow freely, throwing foam and spray high into the air above icy waters. The strong force of nature demonstrated by these relentless falls was not meant to be conquered, but appreciated, as the man and woman standing in awe in the lower right corner are doing. The Katz-Kills (now Catskill) mountain range attracted many artists hoping to capture the essence of an untouched and often untamed wilderness. This region became popular with the Hudson River School, a group of artists who painted dramatic nature scenes meant to romanticize the American landscape. One of the foremost members of the Hudson River School, Thomas Cole, visited the region often and painted it throughout his life.
