Albert Bierstadt lived from 1830 to 1902 and during his life became appreciated for his scenes of the American West. Bierstadt would follow exploratory expeditions to the Rocky Mountains and, in this case, the Yosemite Valley, and produce paintings of these grand, sublime landscapes. When these pieces came out, those on the east coast and midwest saw these places for the first time.
Bierstadt's style focused on the majesty of the natural world and used techniques like luminism to give them a glowing quality. Today he is known as an important interperter of the American West.