Camping Under the Rocks, Big Cottonwood 1859 - 1862

Charles Roscoe Savage made this stereograph, entitled *Camping Under the Rocks, Big Cottonwood*, sometime in the 19th century. Savage was a British-born photographer who documented the landscape and growing settlements of the American West. Here, he captures an everyday scene. Two figures take a rest by a campfire. But let’s consider the cultural context: Savage’s work was part of a larger phenomenon of westward expansion, which had a tremendous impact on the indigenous people. These photographs helped to shape the image of the West as a land of opportunity and adventure, encouraging further settlement. They also served the political agenda of Manifest Destiny, justifying the displacement and marginalization of Native American populations. To understand Savage’s place in this history, we might consult archives, newspapers, and other visual materials. Art is always contingent on its social and institutional context, and the role of the historian is to illuminate those connections.