[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton E. Watkins's "Yosemite National Park, California" (1876-1880), a stunning albumen print, captures the grandeur of the Yosemite Valley in a circular format. The image showcases the dramatic cliffs and waterfalls of the park, framed by lush trees and boulders in the foreground. Watkins, a pioneer of landscape photography, meticulously captured the vastness and beauty of the American West, establishing Yosemite as a national treasure. This photograph, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Watkins's pioneering work in landscape photography.