Artwork is an integral part of the Western History collection, with works dating from the mid-1800s to the present. The collection includes over 1,500 original works of art (sculptures, paintings, drawings) and over 2,500 prints (etchings, engravings, lithographs and posters). The DPL’s Art Collection includes works by Western masters:
The collection is especially strong in its abundance of original artwork by later 19th-century landscapists who painted in Colorado, inspired by the mountain scenery:
This time period included works by many women who were active figures in the Denver Artists' Club and were instrumental in the founding of the Denver Art Museum:
In addition, the collection has fine examples of works from Colorado artists who participated in the Federal Art Project of the 1930s (WPA), including:
The collection also includes the trend-setting works of early Colorado modernists such as:
Contemporary Colorado and Western artists are also represented in this collection, which continues to grow through donations and purchases.