In the Catskill state forest 1893

This monochrome print, titled 'In the Catskill State Forest', was created by Seneca Ray Stoddard, active at the turn of the twentieth century. The photographic print is integrated into a bound book, likely intended for mass consumption and dissemination. Stoddard was not just an artist but also an entrepreneur, capitalizing on the growing tourism industry by producing guidebooks and photographs of the Adirondack region. The materials used in the production of this image – paper, photographic chemicals, printing ink, and binding materials – all speak to industrial processes. The book itself is a commodity, intended to be sold and consumed by a growing middle class with leisure time and a desire for outdoor experiences. This intersection of art, commerce, and environmental awareness reveals the complex relationship between industrialization, natural resources, and the commodification of landscape in American history. The book serves as a potent reminder of how art and craft can be intertwined with wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.