Looking Through the Telescope 1888

Frederic Remington created "Looking Through the Telescope" to capture the visual culture of the American West, a frontier he knew was rapidly changing. At first glance, we see an image of curiosity and shared observation, but it also speaks to the power dynamics inherent in the act of looking. A white man, using technology, literally frames the landscape while the Indigenous people look on. The telescope, a symbol of scientific progress, becomes a tool of dominance. Who gets to look, and what do they see? The presence of firearms adds another layer to this narrative. They are reminders of conflict, conquest, and the forced displacement of Native populations. By representing this encounter, Remington invites us to reflect on the complex and often fraught relationship between settlers and Indigenous communities. What feelings does this scene evoke in you? Does it inspire a sense of adventure, or does it prompt deeper questions about the history of the West and the displacement of its original inhabitants?