Riverbank with Cedars, Rocheport, MO

A gnarled cedar tree holds tight to a rocky cliff high above the Missouri River in this painting by Birger Sandzén, made near the little town of Rocheport. The tree's branches twist and reach out over the water like arms, while the river bends quietly toward distant hills and a sky packed with fluffy clouds. Sandzén piled his paint on thick, dab after dab, so the surface almost hums with energy. His color choices are the real surprise here, with purples, pinks, and blues appearing where you might expect plain gray stone or dull brown bark.

Born in Sweden, Sandzén came to Kansas in 1894 and settled into a long teaching career at small Bethany College in Lindsborg. He grew deeply fond of the American land and painted it again and again over many years. He often mentioned Vincent van Gogh as a hero, and you can see that admiration in his bold strokes and daring colors. Fame mostly passed him by while he was alive, but people have come to value his work more over time. This riverbank scene shows exactly why, turning a simple stretch of shore into something bright and full of movement.