Riverbank with Cedars, Rocheport, MOAI

Take a close look at this rocky overlook above the Missouri River, painted by Birger Sandzén near the small town of Rocheport. A weathered cedar tree clings to the cliff edge, its twisting branches stretching out over the water. The river winds calmly into the distance, where soft hills meet a sky full of puffy clouds. Sandzén built up the surface with thick dabs of paint, giving the whole scene a lively, almost vibrating energy. Notice how he used purples, pinks, and blues in places where you might expect plain gray rock or brown bark.

Sandzén was a Swedish-born artist who moved to Kansas in 1894 and spent most of his life teaching at little Bethany College in the town of Lindsborg. He fell in love with the American landscape and painted it for decades, often comparing his bold style to that of Vincent van Gogh, whom he admired greatly. Though he never gained huge fame during his lifetime, his work has earned new appreciation over the years for its color and heart. This painting is a good example of why people enjoy his art, taking an ordinary riverbank and filling it with warmth and movement.