[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins’s “[Yosemite National Park, California]” is a captivating albumen silver print that highlights the grandeur of the Yosemite Valley. Captured between 1876 and 1880, the photograph presents a dramatic vista of the rugged terrain, showcasing the powerful forces of nature that shaped the landscape. Watkins’s masterful use of light and shadow emphasizes the textures and depths of the Yosemite Valley, while the circular format, reminiscent of panoramic photography, draws the viewer into the heart of the scene. This image, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers a glimpse into the romanticism and awe that the American wilderness evoked in the late 19th century.