Mouse over the detail to view its caption, click it to zoom in, and use the reset button on the lower right to zoom back out.
1. Cole often attempted to evoke emotion through his depictions of the sky, which he called "the soul of all scenery." Here, he introduced storm clouds to create drama and suspense and to heighten the awe of viewing the Falls.
2. Consisting of two separate cataracts, Kaaterskill Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in New York State. Cole painted at least three other versions of the site.
3. The Native American in Cole's work symbolizes wild, unspoiled nature, even though indigenous people had left that part of the state long before. The smallness of the human figure in relation to the landscape emphasizes humankind's fragile vulnerability.
4. Like his wealthy patrons, Cole studied geology and kept his own collection of minerals, fossils, and rocks. He paid particular attention to the rock formations at Kaaterskill Falls, noting geological features in his sketchbook.