The only way to truly see what a Louisiana landscape looked like before photography is through paintings and drawings. These artistic depictions, created long before cameras, could capture the details of bayous and forests, and provide a glimpse into a world that has since evolved.
louisiana landscape in art: a family heirloom
One landscape image has been part of my life since childhood—a winding road through the woods at sunset, captured in an oil painting that has hung in my family’s homes for generations. The scene is unspoiled, rich with towering trees, Spanish moss, and wildflowers. It was painted in 1926 by my great-great-grandmother, Eleanor Lewis of Loranger, Louisiana. Her initials and the date are etched in the corner.
Curious about its artistic and historical value, I took the small painting to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. Collection curator Bradley Sumrall examined it closely. “I see a painter who’s trying to evoke a feeling, the feeling that the landscape gives to her,” Sumrall said. “I love her dramatic use of lighting and capturing this kind of vibrant sunset.”
what we can learn from a louisiana landscape painting
The Ogden Museum features a gallery of Southern landscape paintings, showcasing how artists have documented the region for nearly two centuries. I asked Sumrall if these works were historically accurate or if artists used creative interpretation. “For the most part, painters were painting the reality of the landscape,” he said.
Sumrall pointed to an 1881 painting of Bayou Plaquemines by Joseph Meeker. The artwork captures a brilliant sunset—a scene so vivid that outsiders might question its authenticity. “But if you’re from South Louisiana,” Sumrall said, “you do know that we have those sunsets.”
I know those sunsets, too. I’ve witnessed the sky ablaze in deep orange, filtering through cypress trees and reflecting on Louisiana’s waterways.
tracing a landscape through generations
My great-great-grandmother’s painting led me on a journey. I remembered faint pencil markings on the back of the canvas. Carefully removing the frame, I found a description: “On the Tangipahoa (River), west and north of Dunnington Bridge in the swamp land.”
I searched for the location and found a new Dunnington Bridge on the Tangipahoa River south of Loranger. With the landowner’s permission, I walked through the woods, imagining the moment Eleanor Lewis might have stood there, painting nearly a century ago.
Among the trees, I found one that reminded me of the massive oaks in her painting. Was it the same tree? Had it stood there for the past four generations? At that moment, I felt a profound connection—not just to a place, but to an artist who had once gazed upon the same Louisiana landscape and captured its beauty for future generations.
exploring the art of the louisiana landscape on tv
the ogden museum of southern art
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is located in downtown New Orleans at 925 Camp Street. For more information on current exhibitions, contact the museum at (504) 539-9650. You can click here to visit the Ogden Museum’s website.
Here are some of my favorite Louisiana landscapes
Lake Martin is part of the Cypress Island Preserve operated by the Nature Conservancy. Click here to see more photos and videos of my visits to Lake Martin.
Ride along as I paddle through the giant cypress trees of Lake Fausse Pointe, a rare stand of old growth trees. Click here to see the story.
Bayou Teche, which flows through the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun Country, is a wonderful place for a kayak paddle. Click here to see my trip on the Bayou Teche Paddle Trail.
I enjoy stargazing and photographing the night sky. And I have found multiple locations where I have been able to see and capture images of the milky way. Click here to see my milky way photos and video.
I’ve made several trips to Grand Isle during the spring migration of tropical songbirds. Be sure to arrive in time for sunrise. Click here to see my story and images of the beautiful birds.
Bass fishermen know about Jimmie Davis State Park in north-central Louisiana. It’s also a great place to enjoy a quiet sunset. Click here to see my story.
Chicot State Park, located minutes north of Ville Platte, Louisiana, has a large lake filled with cypress trees that’s great for paddling. Click here to learn more about the paddle trails and Chicot State Park.
Located on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, Fontainbleau State Park has campsites and cabins and beautiful views of the setting sun. Click here for more information on camping at Fontainbleau State Park.
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