[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins made this albumen print of Yosemite National Park in the early 1860s. Watkins's photographs of Yosemite played a crucial role in the social and political history of the American West. The image invites us to contemplate the relationship between nature, culture, and the institutions that shape our understanding of the natural world. Look at the way Watkins frames the scene. He emphasizes the grandeur and sublimity of the landscape, but also suggests the presence of a carefully constructed and managed space. Watkins's photographs were widely circulated and admired, contributing to the growing awareness of the natural beauty of the American West. They were also used to promote tourism and development in the region, raising important questions about the role of photography in shaping our perceptions of nature and its relationship to economic and political interests. These are the kind of questions historians try to answer by looking at photographic archives.