The Narrows, Ogden Canon 1859 - 1862

Curator: This daguerreotype, “The Narrows, Ogden Canon” by Charles Roscoe Savage, made sometime between 1859 and 1862, is more than just a pretty landscape. Editor: Right, it’s a beautiful landscape, though. It has such stark contrast; it almost feels imposing. The sharp rocks feel very...solid. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, I see a document embedded within the grand narrative of westward expansion in the United States. How does the phrase “Union Pacific Railroad” printed on the card situate this image within that broader political and social context? Editor: Ah, so it's not just about the natural beauty, but about the railroad’s impact? Like Manifest Destiny kind of thing? Curator: Precisely. This image visualizes the narrative of conquering and reshaping the American West. Think about who benefitted from the railroad. Now, who was displaced or further marginalized? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way. The landscape suddenly seems less like a neutral observation and more like...propaganda, maybe? Highlighting progress, but obscuring the cost. Curator: It makes us question the ideology behind westward expansion. Consider also that Savage was a Mormon convert. Does that affect our interpretation of the scene? Editor: Wow, it adds another layer! Maybe the image is also about claiming this land for the Mormon community and finding spiritual resonance in this powerful nature. I didn't realize so much could be read from this one photograph! Curator: Exactly! Art is never created in a vacuum. Understanding these contexts allows us to engage critically with these works, opening up a more complex, richer story. Editor: I'll definitely look at landscape photography differently now. It's a good reminder to always consider the context.