Gezicht op een vallei aan de voet van Mount Lyell in Californië before 1868

This evocative photograph, titled ‘Gezicht op een vallei aan de voet van Mount Lyell in Californië’, was created by W. Harris. The tones range from the darkest browns and blacks to pale whites and greys, and the composition is arranged to give a sense of immense depth. At first glance, we see an image that seeks to capture the sublime. But let's consider the structural elements further. The high vantage point flattens the landscape, challenging our conventional understanding of space. The detailed trees in the foreground contrast with the blurred background. Here, Harris manipulates perspective not to create a realistic depiction, but instead to prompt a sense of scale that seems to oscillate between the intimate and the infinite. The way Harris has framed the natural scene asks us to question the boundaries between the observer and the observed, inviting a meditation on our place in the world.