An Isleta Belle c. 1900

Adam Clark Vroman made this photographic print mounted on card stock, entitled "An Isleta Belle." Vroman was an astute documentarian of Indigenous life, but this image has complex implications. The photographic process itself involved a fair bit of craft, from the mixing of the chemicals to the development of the print in the darkroom. The choice to mount the image on card stock adds another layer of meaning. The card format evokes games of chance and, perhaps, suggests the precarious position of Native Americans at the turn of the century. The woman’s gaze is direct, yet she is framed within a format associated with leisure and entertainment. She's reduced to an object of consumption. Considering the labor of photography alongside its social context allows us to recognize both the artistry and the complicated ethics at play. It challenges our perception and prompts us to consider the broader implications of representation and cultural exchange.