Headwaters of the Colorado River, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

1986

Robert Dawson

Associated Names
Robert Dawson

Artist, American, born 1950

The image shows an observation deck with a group of people looking at a mountain landscape. The viewpoint is from above, facing the deck where tourists are gathered. In the top third of the image, rugged mountain peaks are visible in the distance, some with patches of snow. The sky above the mountains has scattered clouds. The monochrome palette emphasizes the contrast between the bright sky and the darker mountains. A child in a hooded jacket sits on a guide map holding a camera. A man in sunglasses and a windbreaker stands to the left, while other visitors lean against the wooden railing, absorbing the scenery. The scene conveys a leisurely day appreciating natural beauty.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Gift of the UBS Art Collection

  • Dimensions

    image: 35.9 × 46.3 cm (14 1/8 × 18 1/4 in.)
    sheet: 40.3 × 50.6 cm (15 7/8 × 19 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2023.30.52


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Robert Dawson, San Francisco; Paine Webber & Co., New York, 14 July 1993; UBS, New York, 2000; gift to NGA, 2023.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, center in graphite: Photograph by / Robert Dawson / © 1986 / Headwaters of the Colorado River, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado / From the Water in the West Project; by unknown hand, lower right in graphite: 044836; bottom right: PW 7091