The House Built over the Stump of a Big Tree 1865 - 1866

Carleton E. Watkins's "The House Built over the Stump of a Big Tree" (1865-1866) is a striking example of the photographer's documentation of the American West. Watkins captures the stark contrast between the natural grandeur of a giant redwood tree stump and the small, human-made structure built on top of it. This photograph, created during the height of the California Gold Rush, offers a glimpse into the rapid changes occurring in the landscape and the ways in which humans were attempting to co-exist with nature. Watkins's masterful use of light and shadow further enhances the dramatic scale of the redwood stump, making the photograph a powerful testament to the resilience of both nature and human ingenuity. The image is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.