The Spanish Peaks c. 1871

William Henry Jackson made this photograph of "The Spanish Peaks" with albumen silver print. The picture presents us with a vista of the American West, a landscape of both majestic beauty and human incursion. Jackson was employed by the U.S. Geological Survey. It shows a romanticized view of the landscape that served the ambitions of westward expansion. The sublime peaks evoke a sense of awe, but the presence of fences hints at a changing relationship between humanity and nature. This creates meaning through visual codes, where nature signifies opportunity and fences mark the claim of land ownership. The photograph embodies a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting both the allure of the frontier and the social and economic changes that came with it. To understand it fully, we might consult government archives, survey reports, and even literature of the period. Through this research, we learn how art and history intertwine, revealing the complex narratives embedded in the image.