Section of High Falls. below East Cliff c. late 19th century

This is a stereograph of the High Falls below East Cliff, made by J. Robert Moore in Trenton Falls, New York. This stereograph invites us to consider the cultural and historical contexts of landscape photography in the 19th century. During this time, the representation of nature was often intertwined with notions of national identity and romantic ideals. It was a time of westward expansion, when photography was a means of documenting and promoting the idea of an American sublime. Look at the lone figure seated on the rock. His presence prompts us to consider the relationship between humans and nature, and the ways in which individuals sought to find their place within the grand narrative of the American landscape. There is a sense of solitude, but also of connection with the natural world. Moore's work invites us to reflect on our own place within these historical and cultural narratives.