Landschap in de sneeuw: Doublehead, gezien vanaf een weg nabij Gale's, NH, Verenigde Staten Possibly 1899

This cyanotype, or blueprint, shows us Doublehead Mountain in New Hampshire as seen by Charlotte M. Endicott. What does it mean to record such a scene at this time and in this way? The choice of cyanotype is interesting; it was a relatively inexpensive process often used for technical drawings. Perhaps Endicott was interested in democratizing artistic production, creating landscape images that weren't the exclusive domain of painting or high art photography. The image also suggests something of the cultural and economic history of this region. The snow-covered landscape speaks to the harsh winters of New England and its distinctive geography. The modest scale reminds us that this was someone’s personal project, an effort to document or appreciate their surroundings. To understand this work better, we might research the history of photography in America, the artistic practices of women in the 19th century, and the visual culture of the White Mountains. These are the kinds of contexts which inform our understanding of the work as a cultural artifact.