Wind River Peak, Wyoming c. 1870

Curator: This gelatin silver print by John K. Hillers captures Wind River Peak, Wyoming. The image is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels like looking into a sepia dream. The muted tones give it a timeless quality. The reflection of the sky is so beautifully rendered. Curator: Note how Hillers uses the water as a compositional tool, bisecting the frame to create a dialogue between the tangible landscape and its mirrored form. Editor: Yes, and that lone figure on the log! Is he fishing? Suddenly, it's not just a landscape, it's a moment, a story. Curator: Indeed. The photograph invites contemplation on the relationship between humanity and nature, mediated through the lens of early landscape photography. Editor: It’s funny, that stillness makes me feel both at peace and a bit melancholy. Curator: A fitting response to Hillers' evocative rendering of the sublime. Editor: Absolutely. It’s more than just a picture. It's a poem.