Painting at the End of the Ice Age

When David Rosenthal began painting nearly five decades ago, he never imagined he would document decades of glacial recession. Yet his current exhibition, Painting at the End of the Ice Age, highlights the profound impact of human-driven climate change on the coldest regions of the planet. By merging his artistic talent with scientific insight, Rosenthal hopes the show will expose a broad audience to the realities of global warming.

In the following discussion, Rosenthal shares what inspired him to become an artist and the motivations behind his latest exhibit.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

What drew you to art, and why focus on glaciers?

When I started painting in the early 1970s, I was always fascinated by nature, which naturally led me to landscapes. Growing up in Maine, I preferred cold climates and disliked hot summers, pollen, and insects. The first frosts were a relief, and I loved the icy winters. I was captivated by the scattered boulders left behind by glaciers from the last Ice Age.

As a child, I had no interest in becoming an artist. I planned to study physics, but after struggling in college, I turned to drawing and painting for enjoyment. I taught myself, and I often say I learned more about painting through physics than any art course. In 1976, I earned a B.A. in Art and Science. While not particularly useful for employment, it eventually led me to Cordova, Alaska, to work in a cannery. There, I discovered glaciers still surrounded the town—remnants of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet.

I began painting glacial scenes along with other breathtaking Alaskan landscapes. Over the years, I traveled to glaciers worldwide. About six or seven years ago, I realized my paintings had inadvertently documented the retreat of glaciers and other climate change effects. That inspired me to create the current exhibit, combining earlier works with new pieces specifically designed to show glacial recession.

What prompted you to put together this exhibit now?

It was never my plan to create this exhibit from the start. A friend once said, “You’ve been preparing this show for over 40 years without even realizing it.” Science has always underpinned my work. My paintings reflect years of observation and study of the natural world—they often convey more than photographs, because I capture what I truly see. A camera captures a single moment from a fixed perspective, while my drawings consider shadows, light, and emotional impressions. I believe painting is the most effective way to show glacial retreat and other climate change effects.

The exhibition debuted in 2018 at the Valdez Museum, followed by a larger, enhanced version at the Cordova Museum in 2019. In 2022, it was shown at the Pratt Museum in Homer, and the most extensive iteration is now at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, running until March 2024. The exhibit will continue to evolve, reflecting a changing world. My goal is for it to travel to natural history museums and throughout the United States to educate audiences on climate change.

Your works show a variety of glacial landscapes—from pure white snowscapes to deep blues with flowing water.

How does color play a role in your work?

Color is not just a hue on a blank page—it interacts with other tones in the painting. Blue is my favorite color, but my use of it reflects how I perceive nature, influenced by the light refracted from the sky. Even on cloudy days, grays have a bluish cast, except under rare conditions. My palette aims to reflect the true experience of seeing the natural world.

You have participated in several art programs through the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Science Foundation.

How have these programs influenced your approach to communicating science?

I have been fortunate to access extraordinary environments through these programs. Alaska State Artists in Schools allowed me to visit remote villages, teach children, and continue my work in places I might never have reached. The U.S. Coast Guard program enabled me to travel on icebreakers to Arctic regions otherwise inaccessible.

The most significant opportunity was the National Science Foundation Antarctic Artist and Writers Program, which sought to share human experiences with the public through visual arts, photography, and literature—combining education with science. These experiences have enriched my understanding of nature and reinforced the scientific basis of my work.

Why is it important to depict climate change through painting?

My images of glacial retreat and other climate effects capture attention and communicate ideas in ways that science alone may not. Art draws people in. I once joked that while this exhibit could make me famous, it’s a pity I am too old to fully enjoy it. A friend reminded me that, as a young artist, I would not have been able to create it.

I want this exhibit to show what I have personally witnessed. I hope even those who might disregard science will engage with the show and leave with a better understanding of global warming.

Painting at the End of the Ice Age is currently on view at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau until March 2024. It will appear at the Anchorage Museum in fall 2024 and is planned to travel across the lower 48 states.