Beaver Lake, Conejos Cañon, Colorado 1874

Curator: This is Timothy O'Sullivan's "Beaver Lake, Conejos Cañon, Colorado," part of the Wheeler Expedition of 1874. The albumen print presents a seemingly tranquil landscape. Editor: My initial reaction is one of stark beauty, but also distance. The sepia tones evoke a sense of detachment, a romanticized vision of the American West that obscures the reality of settler colonialism. Curator: The material process here is key. O'Sullivan was tasked with documenting the expedition, producing images that served as both scientific record and promotional material for westward expansion. The very act of photographing this landscape shaped its perception and, ultimately, its consumption. Editor: Precisely. The serene lake and majestic mountains are framed within a narrative of progress, yet at what cost? We must consider the Indigenous communities displaced and the environmental impact of resource extraction. Curator: I agree. The photograph's materiality—the paper, the chemicals, the printing process—reflects the labor involved in constructing this idealized image. Editor: Thank you. O'Sullivan's lens, like the expedition itself, was an instrument of power, shaping our understanding of land, identity, and history.