La Fiesta de San Estavan, Acoma c. 1900

Adam Clark Vroman made this photograph, La Fiesta de San Estavan, Acoma, using photographic processes typical of the late 19th and early 20th century. The gelatin silver print on paper is a powerful medium to encapsulate social context. Vroman was a bookseller who became fascinated with the indigenous communities of the American Southwest. He documented them extensively. Looking at this image, it's important to consider how the camera, as a tool, mediates our understanding of culture. Photography, though seemingly objective, involves choices: what to include in the frame, the angle, and the moment of capture. The labor involved extends beyond the photographer to the printing process, a chemical dance that transforms light into a tangible image. The photograph is then reproduced mechanically. The context of the image matters too; originally presented on a playing card, this artwork challenges the distinction between fine art and everyday life, prompting us to reflect on how we assign value and meaning.