A look at landscapes in SAAM’s collection and the wildlife that lives beyond the paintings
Brynn Garner
De Lancey Gill, Mouth of James Creek, n.d., oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1989.90
Gift of E. J. Pretzlaff in memory of William E. McCleary, Jr.
While I was growing up, I spent a lot of time at art museums and galleries with my aunt, an art history professor, and my grandmother, who I called “Nanny.” Nanny had art prints hanging all over the house, all of which I now proudly have on display in my own house.
My strongest passion, however, was for the outdoors. I was constantly in awe of the natural world around me, and I knew early in my life that I wanted to be an environmental conservationist. As such, I was always drawn to the landscape paintings on those museum visits, and I couldn’t help but wonder about what fish, wildlife, and plant species the artist may have encountered.
I now work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where every day I am grateful to be serving our mission “to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” However, I still retain a deep appreciation for art. As the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, I am honored to join with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to highlight just a few of the landscape paintings from their collection and go in-depth about some of the fish, wildlife, and plants that make their homes in the ecosystems and habitats depicted by artists like Albert Bierstadt, De Lancey Gill, Winslow Homer, Myrna Báez, and Chiura Obata.
I hope these new interpretations will spark your curiosity. The next time you view a landscape painting, take a minute to think about what you cannot see—the fish that might be swimming below the water’s surface or the birds building their nests in the trees.
The frogs are highly susceptible to a chytrid fungus commonly known as “Bd,” which attacks the frogs’ permeable skin through water or skin-to-skin contact. This fungus compromises their breathing and water balance. While some frog species can live through infection or even be asymptomatic carriers, others are vulnerable. Biologists and researchers from multiple agencies, including the Service, are working to combat Bd.
Brynn Garner is a public affairs specialist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.