View in the Grand Cañon of the Colorado River 1872

This stereograph, made by William Bell around 1872, presents a view of the Grand Canyon, created through the then-modern technology of photography. A stereograph consists of two nearly identical photographs mounted side-by-side on a card. When viewed through a stereoscope, the image appears three-dimensional, offering an immersive experience for the viewer. Bell was part of the Wheeler Expedition, a U.S. government survey team, tasked with mapping the American West. The photographic process itself, involving bulky equipment and meticulous darkroom work, highlights the labor-intensive nature of image-making at the time. Each print represents hours of work under difficult conditions, and the final product would have been relatively expensive. The stereograph offered a window onto the landscape, bringing the experience of the American West into parlors and homes. As a result, the work challenges traditional distinctions between fine art, scientific documentation, and commercial enterprise.