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Sunset Near the Chisholm Trail by James D. Butler
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography
Sunset Near the Chisholm Trail
Photo CreditCarol M. Highsmith Photography

Sunset Near the Chisholm Trail

Artist
Year1993
Classification painting
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions8 x 6 ft. (243.8 x 182.9 cm)
Credits Commissioned through the Art in Architecture Program
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
Location


  • The panels offer a poetic vision of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Oklahoma and are intended to be complementary.  Sunset Near the Chisholm Trail symbolizes the state's cowboy and agricultural heritage because the Chisholm Trail served as the world's greatest cow trail (between approximately 1867 and 1884), moving cattle from Texas to the Kansas railheads and subsequently shipped to other parts of the country.  Representing an Oklahoma sunset, the painting reflects the hot colors of the red earth of Oklahoma and offers a vision of the vast sky hanging over the viewer. View Near Tahlequah, Cherokee County represents the Native American heritage of Oklahoma and its natural features.  The painting portrays an expansive view of midday, revealing the cool green colors of Oklahoma's "green country", and suspends the viewer above the Illinois River.



    Jim Butler also designed the frames based on the motifs of the building.