Neahkahnie Mountain, Oregon 2004

Robert Adams made this gelatin silver print, titled 'Neahkahnie Mountain, Oregon'. Adams' photography often grapples with the tension between the sublime beauty of the American West and the impact of human development on the landscape. In this seemingly simple image of trees against the sky, we can see a microcosm of this conflict. The delicate branches and leaves reach towards the light, yet the stark black and white medium lends a sense of fragility and impermanence. Made in the United States, where the expansion of cities, logging, and industry have profoundly altered the natural environment, this photograph is a commentary on our relationship with nature, inviting us to consider the ethical and environmental questions around land use. To understand the context of this work, look into the history of conservationism in America, and the complex economic and political factors that have shaped the landscapes Adams depicts. Such research can deepen our understanding of the image and of art as a reflection of social and institutional context.