Looking into the Forest at Gumbo Limbo Trail

In 1974, the National Park Service commissioned American Modernist artist Charley Harper (1922-2007) to create a series of eight paintings to represent the habitats at Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park during the wet and dry seasons. This view is of the dense vegetation and animals found in a hardwood hammock. The strangler fig and gumbo limbo trees are readily recognizable. His use of three-dimensional leaves provides added depth to the canvas and at least 16 animals can be found in its detail. Harper's eight paintings were the basis for oversized replicas which were on exhibit at the Royal Palm area of Everglades National Park for over 30 years.