Entrance Cascade, Watkins Glen 1860 - 1868

"Entrance Cascade, Watkins Glen," is a stereoscopic photograph created by Purviance between 1860 and 1868. This artwork, currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, captures the breathtaking beauty of a waterfall cascading through a narrow gorge at Watkins Glen, New York. The stereoscopic format, which uses two slightly different images to create a three-dimensional effect, immerses the viewer in the natural splendor of the scene, highlighting the dramatic rock formations and the force of the falling water. This photograph, a testament to 19th-century American landscape photography, offers a glimpse into the popular fascination with natural wonders during this era.