El Capitan c. 1915

Willard E. Worden created this photograph of El Capitan in Yosemite. While we don’t know exactly when it was made, Worden was active in photography from the late 19th to the mid-20th century, a period when the American West was being both mythologized and transformed. Worden’s image of El Capitan invites us to consider how landscape photography has shaped our understanding of nature, and American identity. During Worden’s time, landscape photography often served to promote ideas of wilderness as a space for exploration and spiritual renewal, but this narrative often came at the expense of recognizing the displacement and marginalization of Native populations, who were the original inhabitants and stewards of these lands. While gazing at Worden’s photograph, reflect on the layers of history and cultural meaning embedded within the image. It’s a reminder that our relationship with nature is always mediated by power, history, and representation.