Gezicht op de rivier de Exeter in Rockingham County before 1890

This Anonymous work captures a tranquil scene of the Exeter River in Rockingham County. This photograph invites us to consider the cultural and institutional contexts that shaped its creation. We could ask, what was the role of landscape photography in shaping perceptions of nature and national identity at the time it was made? Was this image commissioned, and if so, by whom and for what purpose? The lack of identifying information about the artist also raises interesting questions about authorship, artistic value, and the institutions that preserve and display art. To understand this photograph more fully, we might turn to archives and historical societies to uncover information about the artist, the location, and the social context in which it was made. By exploring these resources, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay of culture, history, and artistic expression that shapes our understanding of art.