Gezicht op Mount Hamilton en het Lick-observatorium 1887 - 1907

This photogravure of Mount Hamilton and the Lick Observatory was created by Sherburne Wesley Burnham, an astronomer also skilled in astrophotography. Burnham’s choice to photograph the Lick Observatory reflects the late 19th century’s fascination with scientific progress and manifest destiny. The observatory, perched atop Mount Hamilton, symbolized humanity's ambition to conquer new frontiers of knowledge. Photogravure, a printing process that transferred photographic images onto metal plates, gained popularity for its ability to produce high-quality reproductions of photographs, blending science with artistry. But, it also represents a complicated social and political agenda. The advancement of scientific knowledge has often been built on the exploitation and erasure of indigenous knowledge. Burnham’s photograph, while aesthetically pleasing, serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between progress, identity, and power. It invites us to reflect on whose perspectives are privileged in our understanding of the world, and whose are marginalized.