"The Bath," a dripping spring in Kanab Cañon 1872

Curator: This stereograph, "The Bath," a dripping spring in Kanab Cañon, was captured by William Bell during the 1872 US Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian. Editor: It’s an evocative image. The dramatic canyon walls, the lush vegetation clinging to the rock, and a figure wading in the water... a primal scene. Curator: The image formed part of the Wheeler Survey's agenda, documenting the American West's resources and landscapes for scientific and governmental purposes. Note how this romanticized view served expansionist goals. Editor: The bath itself is an ancient symbol of purification and renewal. The tiny figure seems to become one with the landscape, evoking a sense of timelessness. Curator: Indeed, such constructed views of the landscape reinforced notions of the frontier as a place of both opportunity and untamed wilderness needing control. Editor: So, we have the natural beauty and the vulnerability of the solitary bather. It's a powerful connection to the land—however manipulated the image may be.