Mountain transportation. Pack mule, Pack and Packers 1871

Curator: This stereo card, "Mountain transportation. Pack mule, Pack and Packers," was captured by Timothy O'Sullivan during the 1871 Wheeler Expedition. Editor: I am struck by how the loaded mule and its handlers become symbolic figures of burden and resilience against an unforgiving landscape. Curator: Absolutely. O'Sullivan's choice of the stereo card format allowed viewers to experience a heightened sense of depth, as if they too were present at the site, witnessing the labor involved in westward expansion. Editor: Note how the mule's pack is topped with deer antlers. It feels like a totem, marking the uneasy relationship between man, animal, and the wild it exploits. Curator: Yes, and the very act of photographing, the material process, becomes part of that exploitation—collecting and documenting as a form of control. Editor: Looking at this, I see echoes of ancient mythologies. The heavily laden animal as a symbol of sacrifice and perseverance, themes that resonate across time and cultures. Curator: Indeed. The labor captured in this image speaks to a history of exploitation, of both natural resources and the laboring body. Editor: O’Sullivan’s photograph prompts reflection on what symbols endure and how our perception of those symbols changes.