Island in Raquette Lake (State land) 1891

This photogravure, made by Seneca Ray Stoddard, captures an island in Raquette Lake. The image is part of a larger report from the Forest Commission. This commission shows the political context of how the State began to manage land, something that would have been a very controversial issue at the time it was produced. Looking closely, you can see the framing effect produced by the overhanging branches, guiding our eye to the still water and the reflections of the trees. Stoddard was an important figure in the late 19th century. As a photographer and cartographer, his images helped to promote tourism in the Adirondacks. But these kinds of picturesque scenes also served another purpose: that of promoting an idea of wilderness, a concept that depended upon displacing the Native Americans who had lived in these areas for centuries. Studying this image can help us to understand the complex social and political forces that shaped the American landscape. To explore this further, look into land management documents from the period, or records from local historical societies.