William Henry Jackson (1843-1942) 

Mitchell Pass, Scotts Bluff, Wyo
Watercolor and gouache on artist’s paper
7 × 10 inches
Monogrammed and dated 1942 lower left; titled on verso

      This evocative watercolor by William Henry Jackson captures the imposing beauty and historic significance of Mitchell Pass at Scotts Bluff, Wyoming, a natural gateway that has long stood as one of the defining landmarks of the American West.  Jackson presents Mitchell Pass as a vast and solemn corridor carved through the towering formations of Scotts Bluff, where the rugged escarpments rise dramatically above the broad plains of the North Platte River Valley. His restrained palette of cool blues, soft greens, and warm sandstone hues conveys the quiet majesty of the landscape—the immense skies, distant horizons, and weathered cliffs that have witnessed generations of travelers moving westward. The subtle handling of light and atmosphere gives the scene a timeless quality, suggesting both the permanence of the land and the fleeting passage of those who crossed it.
     
     For thousands of emigrants traveling the Oregon, California, and Mormon Pioneer Trails, Mitchell Pass served as a vital passage through the bluffs and a reassuring landmark on the long journey across the Great Plains. The distinctive profile of Scotts Bluff became a symbol of progress and hope for settlers approaching the Rocky Mountain frontier. Jackson’s composition emphasizes the natural grandeur of the pass while allowing the landscape itself to become the central narrative. The faint presence of travelers within the expansive terrain evokes the countless pioneers, explorers, and Native peoples whose histories are intertwined with this place.
     
     Painted in 1942, the final year of Jackson’s life, the watercolor reflects the artist’s enduring connection to the American West. Having first documented these landscapes through his pioneering photography in the nineteenth century and later revisited them through painting, Jackson brought a rare combination of observation and historical awareness. In Mitchell Pass, Scotts Bluff, Wyo., he transforms a geological formation into a powerful symbol of passage and perseverance—a quiet tribute to a landscape that shaped the story of westward expansion.