The Interior of the Spit 2015

Robert Adams made this gelatin silver print, titled "The Interior of the Spit," sometime during his career. Adams’ work often zeros in on the unglamorous aspects of the American West. Here he finds interest in the coastal landscape. Adams came to maturity as an artist during a time of increasing environmental awareness in the United States. His photographs suggest an ambivalence about progress, and his images reflect a concern for the natural landscape. The black and white medium lends a timeless feel, connecting the scene to historical antecedents in the survey photographs of the 19th century. Are these pictures celebrations of nature or elegies for what has been lost? The role of the art historian is to look beyond the surface of the image, researching the social and political context in which it was made, drawing conclusions about the intent and meaning of the artwork.