Downeville Butte c. 1860s

carletonewatkins

cloudy

natural shape and form

natural formation

snowscape

nieve

countryside

low atmospheric-weather contrast

gloomy

nature heavy

shadow overcast

Carleton E. Watkins' "Downeville Butte" is a striking example of his renowned landscape photography. The large-format albumen print, dating to the 1860s, captures a sweeping vista of a rugged mountain range in California. Watkins' sharp focus on the mountainous landscape, as well as his expert use of light and shadow, convey a sense of the grandeur and immensity of the American West. This image is a testament to Watkins' pivotal role in shaping our visual understanding of the American landscape during the 19th century.