Perched Rock, Rocker Creek, Arizona 1872

Editor: Here we have William Bell’s photograph, "Perched Rock, Rocker Creek, Arizona." It's captivating how such a massive rock balances so precariously. What can you tell me about the context of this image? Curator: This photograph speaks volumes about the 19th-century perception of the American West. Consider how the image presents the landscape as both monumental and desolate, inviting questions about Manifest Destiny. Editor: Manifest Destiny? Curator: Exactly. How did photography shape the narrative of Western expansion and influence political motivations tied to the region's resources? Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn’t considered. It makes me think about how constructed these seemingly objective landscapes truly are.