This period is often considered the most dynamic and important of Sandzén’s career. Kansas and Colorado landscapes came to the forefront during this time and his importance and recognition as a painter increased. In a letter from March 20, 1912 Sandzén wrote to his brother Gustaf: “My paintings have, to tell the truth, aroused a great deal of attention. They are not, however, if one reads the reviews ‘sensational’ – even if the color usage is a little individual. They are simply nature studies. I adhere strictly to nature, but strive for the simplest possible means of expression.”