Gezicht op Montville Falls, New York before 1866

E.H. Alley made this photograph of Montville Falls in New York. The aesthetic that this image represents was part of a broader cultural movement that encouraged the spiritual appreciation of nature. This idea, however, often ignored the history of colonial expansion and the displacement of Indigenous peoples, and how that intersects with the idea of untouched landscapes. The framing of the waterfall, with its gentle cascades and lush surroundings, invites viewers to marvel at its untouched beauty. But what does it mean to 'discover' a landscape that has been inhabited and revered by native communities for centuries? The emotional appeal of such idealized landscapes can subtly reinforce the erasure of Indigenous presence. As you contemplate this image, consider the complex layers of history and representation embedded within it, and the stories that these landscapes hold.