[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins created this albumen print of Yosemite National Park. The solitary figure standing within the landscape evokes a sense of humanity's small place within the grandeur of nature. This recalls the Rückenfigur—a figure seen from behind, contemplating a vast landscape. We can trace this motif back through art history, notably in Romantic paintings where it symbolizes introspection and the sublime. Think of Caspar David Friedrich’s wanderers gazing into the abyss, embodying a confrontation with the overwhelming power of the natural world. Watkins' image taps into our collective memory of these visual tropes. The placement of the figure invites us to project ourselves into the scene, experiencing the same awe and humility. This composition speaks to a deep-seated human desire to connect with nature. Note how the mirroring of the sky in the river below suggests the landscape as a space for both contemplation and introspection. This motif's cyclical progression highlights our ever-evolving relationship with nature, resonating with new meaning each time it reappears.