Drypoint etching by Thomas Moran. Plate signed and dated in the lower right, 1881. Plate measures 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches on 11 1/2 x 14 3/4 inch medium weight wove type paper. An atmospheric print with good use of plate tone. Thomas Moran was a leading artist of the American etching revival, and in 1877 was one of the founders of the New York Etching Club. Moran was known for his experimentation in all aspects of the etching process, and his ability to beautifully capture the atmosphere and energy of the American landscape. This view of the rugged landscape of Half Dome, the plunging depth of the valley and the towering height of the mountains is accentuated by Moran's richly inked rugged foreground and the contrasting, lightly etched lines of the background giving one the sense of the hostility of the environment.
