
The Cyclone That Struck Susanville California in Year of 1903
1970 · Black felt-tip pen, black fountain pen, black ballpoint pen, pastel, and colored pencil on paper
12 3/16 × 19" (31 × 48.2 cm)
Museum of Modern Art

Joseph E. Yoakum was an American self-taught artist who drew landscapes in ballpoint pen and colored pencil on paper, often depicting mountainous terrain and natural formations with a distinctive linear, cartographic precision. Working from memory and imagination rather than direct observation, he created thousands of small-scale drawings that combine geological specificity with a folk-art sensibility. His work remained largely unknown during his lifetime but has since been recognized as a singular contribution to outsider and vernacular American art.
Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 25d ago