Little Meadow Creek, Utah c. 1870

Editor: Here we have John K. Hillers' photograph, "Little Meadow Creek, Utah". The lone figure on horseback, dwarfed by the imposing canyon walls, creates a sense of isolation. What's your read on this image? Curator: The photograph speaks volumes about Manifest Destiny and the romanticized, yet brutal, westward expansion. Hillers, employed by the US Geological Survey, documented a landscape ripe for exploitation. Editor: Exploitation? Curator: Consider the power dynamics at play. The lone rider, representing colonial authority, is literally navigating through indigenous land, paving the way for resource extraction and displacement. This idyllic scene normalizes the erasure of native presence. Editor: So, it’s not just a pretty picture? Curator: Precisely. It’s a loaded image, reflecting a specific, and often problematic, perspective on the American West. Editor: Wow, I didn't see it that way at all. Thanks!