Rotswand weerspiegeld in een water in de Verenigde Staten c. 1880 - 1900

This is a photograph by George Fiske of a rock wall reflected in water in the United States. Fiske was one of many landscape photographers drawn to Yosemite Valley in the late 19th century. But, it is impossible to consider these romantic images of the American West without acknowledging the violent displacement of Native people from their ancestral lands. What stories are silenced when we look at this untouched landscape? The cultural and spiritual connections these communities had with the land were actively erased. Here, the near perfect reflection creates a doubled image, a visual trick that encourages us to consider our own reflection and role in the narratives that we accept. The sublime beauty of Yosemite is undeniable, yet it's crucial to remember whose stories have been marginalized in its creation.