The old elm at Rocky Nook, Hingham before 1890

Editor: Here we have a photographic print called "The old elm at Rocky Nook, Hingham," attributed to Henry Brooks, before 1890. It's such a peaceful scene...a huge tree towering over what seems like a quaint home. What catches your eye when you look at this photograph? Curator: Well, seeing as it predates 1890, it’s interesting to consider how this image contributes to the 19th-century American visual narrative, particularly concerning nature and progress. How does it align with, or perhaps diverge from, the ideals of the Hudson River School, given its photographic medium versus painting? Editor: I see your point about Hudson River School, and now I'm noticing this is photography and that it diverges with paintings. In what way do you think a photo challenges Hudson River School's artistic narrative? Curator: Photography provided a directness that painting couldn’t. However, even with its supposed objectivity, a photographer makes choices that can either reinforce or subvert the dominant cultural values of the time. Is the Elm here seen as threatened by settlement or coexisting in an established social landscape? Editor: Hmm, the coexisting landscape really makes you wonder if it's idyllic. Does the scale of the elm next to the house speak to that coexistence and to how this era saw nature in community with its societal footprint? Curator: Precisely. Early photography often participated in shaping public perceptions of landscapes, encouraging specific forms of development and reinforcing notions of American identity tied to the land. Knowing its original exhibition context, or if it appeared in a widely circulated publication, would tell us more about its impact. What are your feelings on that point of view? Editor: I hadn't considered it playing a societal role. Now, after our chat, I see how this image of a quiet town reflects the values and also the aspirations tied to that era of the Hudson River school and realism in a photo. It really enriches my understanding. Curator: It is also my hope that people see and contemplate the image, the Elm, in its appropriate setting and its time.