Mt. Hayden, or the Great Teton c. 1870

Editor: Here we have William Henry Jackson’s photograph, "Mt. Hayden, or the Great Teton." It's a beautiful sepia print, and I’m struck by the sheer scale of the mountain. What is your interpretation of this work? Curator: I see a document of the American West's exploitation. Jackson's photographs aided in mapping, resource extraction, and ultimately, the transformation of this landscape. The photograph itself is a product, used to promote and enable these activities. Editor: So, it's not just about the beauty of the mountain, but also about its role in a larger economic system? Curator: Precisely. The photograph is evidence of labor, from the photographer’s journey to the darkroom processes, all contributing to a narrative of progress and dominion over nature. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered the photograph as an artifact of labor itself. Curator: Considering the materials and their uses shifts the way we understand the image.