Trein van Rio Grande Southern in besneeuwd landschap in de Rocky Mountains c. 1860 - 1900

This evocative landscape was captured by William Henry Jackson, using photographic processes that were cutting-edge at the time. While we might think of photography today as an easily accessible medium, in Jackson's era, it was an intricate blend of chemistry and craft. Each print involved the careful coating and developing of light-sensitive materials. The image is rich in detail, and has an almost painterly quality. The visual information is made possible by the railway depicted here, bringing materials, labor and new industries through these landscapes. The photograph gives us a glimpse into a period of rapid industrial expansion, particularly in the American West. The railroad itself was a product of vast amounts of labor. The image highlights the intersection of technology, landscape, and human endeavor, asking us to consider the environmental and social implications of progress. In doing so, it expands our understanding of photography, from a simple recording method to a complex interplay of making, materials, and context.