Gezicht op de Niagarawatervallen 1899 - 1901

This is H.F. Nielson’s photographic image of Niagara Falls, printed as part of an advertisement for Gustav Boehm’s “Voyage Around the World” series. Niagara Falls in the late 19th century, was not just a natural wonder, but a spectacle molded by tourism and industry. This image captures that tension. We see the sublime force of nature, yet also the man-made structures that allowed for observation and commodification of the falls. The people at the top are a reminder of the site's accessibility and popularity. Consider too, the complex relationship between the European gaze and the American landscape. As Europeans traveled and settled in the Americas, iconic sites like Niagara Falls became symbols of both the allure and the exploitation of the New World. This image, circulated as part of a commercial venture, speaks to the intertwined histories of exploration, colonization, and the marketing of nature itself. It prompts us to reflect on how we frame and consume landscapes, and whose stories are told in the process.