Providence, Del. and Hudson Canal Co. c. 1863

Thomas H. Johnson created this landscape photograph, "Providence, Del. and Hudson Canal Co." sometime in the 1860s, recording the visual codes of social and institutional progress during a time of great change in the United States. In the mid-19th century, landscape photography was increasingly used by companies and entrepreneurs as promotional material for their businesses. The photograph shows a small town nestled between rolling hills, likely along the canal route. The inclusion of the canal company's name in the title suggests the image served a documentary or promotional purpose, illustrating the impact of industrial development on the American landscape. To fully understand this image, one could delve into the archives of transportation companies of the time, business records, local histories, and census data. By studying these resources, we gain insight into the complex relationship between art, commerce, and the shaping of American identity.