From La Bajada Mesa Toward the Oritz Mountains 1978

William Clift made this gelatin silver print, From La Bajada Mesa Toward the Ortiz Mountains. In this traditional photographic process, the artist begins with a light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts, coating a sheet of paper, then exposing it to light through a negative. The print is then developed, fixed, and washed. The materiality of this image is closely tied to its cultural significance. Clift's labor-intensive method, demanding patience and precision, captures the stark beauty of the New Mexican landscape. The black and white tones highlight the textures of the rocks and the vastness of the open space, while the clouds hint at the environmental forces at play, reminding us of the impact of natural processes on the land. Understanding Clift's engagement with both photographic technique and the environment allows us to see this image not just as a landscape, but as a meditation on time, place, and the artist's hand.