Mormon village of Mona, below the foothills of Nebo Peak, Wahsatch Range 1872

Curator: This stereograph, titled "Mormon village of Mona, below the foothills of Nebo Peak, Wahsatch Range," was created by William Bell, circa 1872, as part of a larger expedition. Editor: It feels desolate. The muted tones and vast sky dwarf the tiny settlement. The composition is so flat, almost like a stage set. Curator: Precisely. Bell's photographs documented the American West, often framing settlements within their geographical context. This image, one of many, shows the U.S. Army's effort to understand and survey the area. Editor: I'm struck by how the horses drinking from the stream provide a sense of scale and perhaps hint at the limited resources available to the village. The horizon is very wide, which makes the settlement look fragile. Curator: Indeed. The image becomes a powerful commentary on the intersection of territorial expansion, religious community, and environmental constraints in the late 19th century. Editor: It's a surprisingly subtle piece of propaganda, if that's what it is, given its delicate composition. Curator: Exactly. It invites us to consider the complexities inherent in Western expansion.