Mirror Lake and Mt. Watkins 1870

Editor: Here we have John P. Soule’s gelatin-silver print, "Mirror Lake and Mt. Watkins," taken around 1870. The reflection in the water is so still, creating a beautiful mirroring effect. What strikes you most about this photograph? Curator: Beyond the aesthetic beauty, I see a commentary on Manifest Destiny and the changing landscape of the American West. How might this idyllic scene mask the displacement and erasure of Indigenous peoples? Editor: I hadn’t considered that. So, you are saying this idealized landscape, popular within the Hudson River School aesthetic, participates in a narrative that romanticizes westward expansion? Curator: Exactly. These images often omitted the realities of colonial violence, presenting a vision of untouched wilderness ready for settlement. Consider, too, the men in the boat; who were they, and what role did photography play in promoting tourism to this area, consequently impacting the local ecosystem and culture? Editor: It's interesting how what seems like a simple landscape photograph can actually reveal so much about power, representation, and environmental impact. It's a constructed narrative, not just a reflection of nature. Curator: Precisely. And by examining it through a critical lens, we can challenge the romanticized notions that obscure these complex histories. Does this influence how you now understand the photograph's serenity? Editor: Absolutely. It’s made me rethink how landscapes, even seemingly untouched ones, are always intertwined with human actions and ideologies. Curator: It’s about unveiling the hidden narratives embedded within the image. The past is rarely silent.