New housing, view of Pikes Peak 1968

Editor: Robert Adams' "New housing, view of Pikes Peak," taken in 1968, is a gelatin-silver print depicting a rather ordinary house with mountains in the background. There’s something unsettling about its starkness, almost like it's staged. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This image encapsulates a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting the rapid suburbanization of the West and its impact on the environment and social fabric. Adams' work critiques the romantic ideal of the landscape. It also prompts questions about whose narratives are privileged in shaping our understanding of place. Consider the monochrome palette, divesting the scene of color – does that amplify a sense of uniformity or loss, perhaps even alienation, linked to these new housing developments? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the lack of color contributing to that sense of unease, but it makes sense. So it’s not just a picture of a house but a commentary on something larger? Curator: Precisely. Adams situates this seemingly mundane scene within a broader context of capitalist expansion and environmental degradation. The view of Pikes Peak in the distance—a traditional symbol of the American West—becomes almost ironic, a beautiful natural landmark overshadowed by human development. How do you think Adams challenges conventional landscape photography through this juxtaposition? Editor: I see what you mean. Instead of glorifying nature, it’s showing us how we're changing it, maybe not always for the better. It makes you question the American dream a bit. Curator: Absolutely. And questioning those narratives is crucial. Thinking about whose dream is being represented here and at what cost? Adams compels us to engage critically with these complex issues of land use, social change, and our relationship with the environment. Editor: It's amazing how a simple photograph can hold so much meaning and spark such important conversations. I’ll definitely look at landscape photography differently now. Curator: Exactly! Hopefully you’ll think about the historical and social contexts behind them and start to dig into those complicated issues.