Head of Evans Gulch, Mosquito Pass c. 1870s

Editor: This photograph, "Head of Evans Gulch, Mosquito Pass," by William Henry Jackson, showcases a vast mountain landscape. It's… melancholy, almost? What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a complex negotiation between the myth of the untouched West and the reality of its rapid transformation. Jackson’s images were used to promote settlement, but they also inadvertently document the devastating impact on Indigenous land and ways of life. How does the lone figure sitting on the rock resonate with you? Editor: He seems small and contemplative, almost dwarfed by the landscape. Curator: Exactly. Jackson's work prompts us to consider the ethics of expansion and the role of photography in shaping perceptions of land and belonging. It's a powerful reminder of the narratives we choose to tell and whose stories get erased. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Thanks for helping me see the bigger picture. Curator: My pleasure. It's in these conversations that art truly comes alive.