Pueblo of Mi-shong-ni-vi c. 1900

Adam Clark Vroman captured "Pueblo of Mi-shong-ni-vi" with his camera. The Ace of Diamonds playing card becomes a peculiar frame for the image. The diamond, a symbol of value and status, encases a photograph of an ancient pueblo. We see the Pueblo, its architecture stacked and steeped in indigenous culture. But what does it mean to frame it with this symbol of the modern, Western world? The diamond as a symbol has traveled through time. In medieval Europe, diamonds represented invincibility and courage; here, it seems to appropriate the Pueblo and its heritage, casting it as a precious artifact. The act of framing, be it with a camera lens or a diamond suit, speaks to our need to contain and understand. This photograph invites reflection on how we assign value and preserve cultural memory. It captures a moment in a long, cyclical history, where symbols intertwine, creating new meanings and understandings across generations.