Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking North 1872

Curator: This albumen silver print, titled "Cañon of Kanab Wash, Colorado River, Looking North," was captured by William Bell. Editor: It feels like stepping into a lost world, swallowed by stone. So quiet, and sepia-toned. Curator: Think about the symbolism of the canyon itself—a pathway, an incision into the earth revealing geological time. Bell emphasizes that sense of scale, right? Editor: Absolutely, it dwarfs any human presence. It's also quite a psychological journey, this image. That light at the end feels like a promise, or maybe a question. Curator: Indeed, images like these helped shape perceptions and spark interest in the American West. Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn't it, about the stories those rocks could tell, if only they could speak.