Gezicht op een meer in Yosemite Valley 1871 - 1912

Isaiah West Taber captured this image of Mirror Lake in Yosemite Valley, likely in the late 19th century, using photographic techniques that were emerging during a period of westward expansion in America. The photograph is a poignant reminder of the complex relationship between landscape, identity, and history. Taber's work romanticizes the American West, but often overlooks the displacement and cultural erasure of Native American communities. The mirrored reflection in the lake creates a visual metaphor for the ways in which landscapes can simultaneously reflect and distort our understanding of history. Consider how the serene beauty of Yosemite is framed and consumed within the context of environmental exploitation and the dispossession of indigenous peoples. It invites us to reflect on the layers of history embedded within landscapes and the stories they tell about power, identity, and belonging.