Small artificial lake for irrigating purposes at Mona 1872

Curator: This stereo card, "Small artificial lake for irrigating purposes at Mona," was created by William Bell around 1872 during the U.S. Geographical Surveys West of the 100th Meridian. Editor: It feels incredibly staged, yet the sepia tones and the presence of the figures create a tranquil, almost timeless feel. Curator: Precisely. These images served the political purpose of documenting and promoting westward expansion, often glossing over the realities of labor and displacement. Bell was employed by the U.S. Army. Editor: Look at the materiality here: the albumen print, carefully mounted on cardstock. It presents this engineered landscape as a consumable object, much like the water itself. Curator: Right, it served to legitimize these monumental engineering projects and the broader narrative of Manifest Destiny. Editor: It’s interesting how such a seemingly benign scene carries so much weight. Curator: Indeed. The photograph reveals so much about the cultural and political landscape of the time.