Landschap met rotsen en ijspegels before 1867

This photograph of a landscape with rocks and icicles was made by Jesse A. Graves in the late 19th century. As photography became more widespread, it played an increasingly important role in shaping public perceptions and promoting tourism. Consider the context in which this image was created. The American landscape, particularly its dramatic natural features, became a source of national pride and identity. Photographers like Graves contributed to this by capturing and circulating images of picturesque locations. This was the time when the United States was expanding westward, and landscape photography played a key role in documenting, celebrating, and, at times, idealizing the natural environment. How might this idyllic image have been used to attract tourism? To understand this image better, we can consult historical travel guides, local archives, and studies of the history of photography and tourism. It’s through this research that we can appreciate the historical weight of the image, which is contingent on social and institutional context.