Gezicht op The Sentinel in Yosemite National Park c. 1880 - 1900

Editor: This gelatin-silver print, taken by Isaiah West Taber between 1880 and 1900, is called "View of The Sentinel in Yosemite National Park". The sepia tones and the almost reverential stillness give it such a timeless quality. How would you interpret this work, especially considering its context? Curator: This image resonates with the sublime—that feeling of awe and slight terror inspired by nature's grandeur. The Sentinel itself, that monolithic rock formation, looms large. Notice how the artist positions it in the background, almost ethereal against the sky. The Hudson River School influence is visible in the careful composition. What emotional or psychological resonance do you get from that kind of visual language? Editor: I see a desire to capture the vastness and power of nature, and almost to shrink the viewer in comparison. The name “Sentinel” definitely brings to mind a watchful guardian, as well. Curator: Exactly! And think about what the image excludes. We see no figures, no sign of human industry, it presents the landscape as a place almost untouched, pure. The artist also is using visual symbolism of purity and new beginnings. Does this landscape appear pristine and untouched, or are you seeing signs that give away more of its context? Editor: Now that you mention it, the controlled composition hints at human intervention in selecting the framing of an idealized landscape. It's interesting how it both presents nature and subtly shapes our understanding of it. Curator: Precisely. The very act of photographing—selecting, framing—introduces a human perspective. Perhaps even imposing it onto the landscape. That push and pull between raw nature and human interpretation really enriches the experience. Editor: This conversation really altered how I first saw it, now noticing those added layers and subtle interventions in how we are to approach nature. Thank you!