Hanging Rock, Foot of Echo Cañon 1867 - 1868

"Hanging Rock, Foot of Echo Cañon" (1867-1868) by Andrew Joseph Russell is a captivating landscape photograph that showcases the rugged beauty of the American West. Russell, known for his documentation of the Transcontinental Railroad, captures a dramatic rock formation looming over a valley with a meandering river and modest farmhouses in the distance. The solitary figure seated beneath the overhang adds a sense of scale and contemplation, inviting the viewer to consider the vastness and serenity of the natural world. This image, held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Russell's mastery of photographic composition and his ability to convey the grandeur of the American landscape.