Gezicht op een mijn in Californië before 1886

Carleton Watkins produced this photograph of a mine in California, which appears in a book printed in the late 19th century. Watkins was commissioned to create images that would romanticize the industrialization of the West. This image reflects both the physical and social landscape of the American West during the Gold Rush. It captures the scale of environmental change and the ambition of those who sought fortune in the mines. This ambition came at a price. The photograph depicts a technique called hydraulic mining which involved using high-pressure water jets to erode hillsides and extract gold, leading to significant environmental devastation. Watkins’ photographs also often erased the presence and labor of marginalized communities. They served to promote a particular vision of progress and prosperity, eliding the experiences of Native Americans, Chinese immigrants, and other groups who were impacted. The tension between progress and destruction underscores the complexity of the American dream, especially as it was envisioned and pursued in the West.