David Rosenthal is a Cordova-based landscape painter whose work documents the retreat of glacial ice and the changing Arctic landscape. His exhibition, Painting at the End of the Ice Age, is on view at the Anchorage Museum from October 4, 2024, through September 14, 2025. Featuring 67 paintings that blend artistic observation with scientific understanding, the exhibition offers a visual chronicle of glacial change over time, drawing from Rosenthal’s decades of field research in Alaska, Antarctica, Greenland, and beyond.

1. What inspired you to focus on glaciers and ice in your paintings?
Rosenthal: I’ve always loved glaciers and their landscapes. Living in Cordova allowed me to observe glaciers up close, and over the years, I realized I was creating an incredible record of their retreat due to climate change. This inspired me to use my work as an educational tool to highlight these changes.

2. Why do you say the Ice Age isn’t over but is still ending?
Rosenthal: The Ice Age is a geologic period defined by significant glaciation. While most people think of it as something long gone, the massive ice sheets and glaciers we see today are remnants. Watching them retreat confirms we’re living in the final stages of this Ice Age.

3. How did your background in science influence your art?
Rosenthal: I studied physics in college, though I didn’t finish that path. However, that scientific background helped me understand the natural world—light, color, and perspective—which deeply informs my realistic style. This blend of science and art allows me to depict landscapes in a way that’s both accurate and emotionally resonant.

4. How do your paintings differ from photographs in depicting glaciers?
Rosenthal: Photographs capture a single moment from a fixed perspective, but my paintings represent years of observation and analysis. I include details that may not appear in a photo but are part of the larger story of the landscape as I’ve experienced it. My goal is to convey what I see and feel, which I believe creates a deeper sense of realism.

5. Can you share the process behind your paintings?
Rosenthal: My work often begins with field sketches and notes. I combine these observations with scientific data and historical context to depict not just the current state of glaciers but their changes over time. Some pieces even imagine what landscapes might have looked like thousands of years ago.

6. What role does perspective play in your work?
Rosenthal: Perspective is critical for creating a sense of depth and realism. During my talks, I often guide audiences through simple perspective exercises to show how it transforms a flat surface into a three-dimensional space. This same principle helps me bring glaciers and icefields to life on canvas.

7. Your exhibition combines art with science. How did you achieve this?
Rosenthal: I worked with geologists, oceanographers, biologists, and self-taught naturalists to pair my paintings with scientific insights. This collaboration ensures the exhibition is both visually compelling and educational, helping visitors understand the profound changes happening to our planet.

8. How has your exhibition evolved over time?
Rosenthal: The show has traveled to several locations—Valdez, Cordova, Homer, and Juneau—and it’s grown with each venue. For its year-long run at the Anchorage Museum, I’ve included more works and refined the narrative to better connect with audiences.

9. Why do you describe your work as an educational tool?
Rosenthal: My paintings document the retreat of glaciers and the impacts of global warming in a way that’s accessible and relatable. By presenting this visual record, I hope to spark conversations and deepen understanding of climate change.

10. What do you hope visitors take away from the exhibition?
Rosenthal: I want people to leave with a greater appreciation of the beauty and fragility of glacial landscapes and a clearer understanding of the dramatic changes happening due to climate change. Art can bridge the emotional and intellectual gap, making these issues feel real and urgent.