Easton and Weygat Mountain c. 1895

William H. Rau captured Easton and Weygat Mountain with a camera, at a time when photography was emerging as both an art form and a tool for documentation. Rau's work invites us to consider how landscapes are not merely passive backdrops, but are active participants in shaping identity and history. This tranquil scene belies the complex narratives embedded within the land itself. Consider the indigenous populations who were displaced as settlements like Easton grew and prospered. The mountain in the distance serves as a silent witness to the changing tides of power and ownership. Rau's composition emphasizes a particular perspective, one that frames the town within the embrace of nature. Yet, we must ask, whose perspective is privileged here? How does this romanticized view obscure the realities of industrialization, urbanization, and the social hierarchies that defined the era? This photograph is a poignant reminder of the stories we choose to tell and those we leave untold.