Artwork
Superstition Mountain, Apache Trail, Arizona (no.1)
Superstition Mountain, Apache Trail, Arizona (no.1) is an ink print by George Elbert Burr. It dates from 1929 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1929, this print by American artist George Elbert Burr presents a view of Superstition Mountain along Arizona’s Apache Trail. Executed as an etching on wove paper, the image is rendered in a greenish‑black tone that contrasts with the light surface of the sheet.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays a stark desert scene: scattered cacti and low shrubs occupy the foreground, while a series of sharply cut, layered peaks dominate the horizon. The sparse vegetation and expansive sky convey the isolation and rugged character of the Southwest landscape.
Technique & Style
Burr employed fine, controlled lines typical of etching, allowing him to delineate the texture of rock faces and plant forms with precision. The greenish‑black ink, applied to the metal plate and transferred to the paper, emphasizes subtle tonal variations and gives the work a muted, atmospheric quality.
History & Provenance
George Elbert Burr, noted for his desert and mountain prints, produced this piece during a prolific period of western-themed etchings. The work has remained within private and institutional collections that focus on early 20th‑century American printmaking.
Context
The print reflects the broader interest of the 1920s in documenting the American West’s natural scenery. Burr’s focus on the Apache Trail aligns with contemporary efforts to capture the region’s geography for both artistic and historical purposes.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
George Elbert Burr (April 14, 1859 – November 17, 1939 ) was an American printmaker and painter best known for his etchings and drypoints of the desert and mountain regions of the American West.
