Gezicht op Cape Elizabeth in Maine before 1890

Curator: The image before us captures Cape Elizabeth in Maine, sometime before 1890. We know it through this gelatin silver print, offering a window into late 19th-century coastal life. Editor: My first thought is just how dramatic this is. The churning water, the stark contrast of the rocks, and that lone lighthouse in the distance—it feels so raw and powerful. Curator: Absolutely. What's striking is the interplay of man-made structure—the lighthouse itself, the built breakwater perhaps—against the untamed force of the ocean. It speaks volumes about humanity's attempt to navigate and control nature, a popular subject of landscape photography during this period. Editor: I see it as a visual metaphor, then, of humans facing the sublime and the uncontrollable. Considering the period, with the rise of industrialization and increasing urban populations, these scenes held immense value. It shows both promise and danger. Do you think this kind of romantic representation downplayed the dangers of maritime life or idealized it? Curator: That’s a worthwhile consideration, and it certainly touches on broader themes related to progress, nation-building, and the taming of the American landscape—concepts particularly significant in the late 19th century. In museums, these works promoted both the accessibility and natural resources of specific regions. Editor: Access and control, themes which deeply concern us even today. The image makes me think of climate change. That constant push and pull is now exacerbated by rising sea levels. Viewing it with contemporary eyes highlights its relevance to environmental activism. How do we safeguard our landscapes when faced with global transformations that have historical roots? Curator: Precisely. This is why it’s so vital to reconsider these historical depictions, to understand them not as frozen moments in time but as points of contact between past anxieties and present-day urgency. Editor: Agreed. The photograph allows us to reflect upon past attitudes about nature. We might reimagine these photographs through that lens of urgency. Curator: Exactly. These gelatin silver prints act as cultural touchstones for understanding our past and navigating our present.