Pulpit Rock c. 1873

Carleton E. Watkins's "Pulpit Rock," a stunning example of 19th-century landscape photography, captures the rugged beauty of the American West. Taken in 1873, the image showcases the iconic rock formation, framed by the surrounding hills and a winding river. The photograph, printed in a unique oval format, emphasizes the grandeur of the natural landscape and the stark contrast between the rocky terrain and the soft, misty sky. Watkins, a pioneer of the "Albumen print" process, skillfully used this technique to create a crisp image with rich detail, making it a captivating record of the Western frontier.