Cape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon 1867

Carleton E. Watkins's "Cape Horn, Columbia River, Oregon" (1867) is a striking example of 19th-century landscape photography. The large-format albumen print captures the dramatic natural beauty of the Columbia River Gorge, with towering rock formations, a tranquil river, and a distant forest. Watkins's sharp detail and masterful composition showcase the grandeur of the American West, inviting viewers to experience the raw power of nature. The photograph's timeless quality and focus on the untamed landscape reflect the romanticism of the era, making it a treasured example of early photographic art.