Cliffs of Lodore c. 1875

Curator: This striking stereograph depicts the Cliffs of Lodore, an image captured by John K. Hillers, the 19th-century American photographer celebrated for his work documenting the Western landscape. Editor: It's…stark. The sepia tones and the severe, almost gothic, rock formations give it a very somber feeling, like a monument to something lost. Curator: Hillers worked extensively with the U.S. Geological Survey, framing the West through a scientific, almost utilitarian lens. Yet, there's undeniable romanticism present. Editor: I see the romanticism, but I'm also wondering about whose land this is. These images were used to justify and enable Western expansion, often erasing Indigenous presence. Curator: A crucial point. It calls to mind how landscape photography became intertwined with notions of manifest destiny. The cliffs become a symbol of untamed nature, ready to be conquered. Editor: Exactly. Seeing it now, with that context in mind, changes the emotional impact completely. Curator: It’s a potent reminder of how interwoven art and power can be, even in seemingly straightforward documentation. Editor: Indeed, and how important it is to examine the narratives these images perpetuate.