Rocks c. 1875

Curator: This is a stereograph titled "Rocks" by John K. Hillers. Stereographs like this one offered 19th-century viewers a sense of immersive experience. Editor: It feels monumental, yet small. The way the rocks tower—it suggests resilience, a defiance against time and weathering. Curator: Absolutely, and the very act of photographing the landscape, particularly by someone associated with westward expansion, invites a dialogue about power, representation, and the romanticization of the frontier. Editor: The rock, as a symbol, has always represented strength and endurance, but here I wonder if it’s also about the weight of history, both geological and human. Curator: I think you're right. Considering Hiller's positionality, there's a tension between preservation and exploitation inherent in this seemingly straightforward depiction. Editor: Exactly. So, this photograph offers a complex meditation on permanence and change. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to think about the enduring impact of landscape on identity and history.