Heart of the Cañon c. 1875

Editor: This is John K. Hillers' "Heart of the Cañon," a stereograph. The sepia tones and the subject matter give it a really rugged, pioneer feel. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Well, consider the materiality of the photograph itself. The albumen print, the card stock – these were mass-produced, readily available. Hillers worked for the U.S. Geological Survey, and these images were circulated widely. Editor: So, the distribution method shapes how we see the canyon? Curator: Precisely! It's not just about the romantic sublime, but about access, consumption, and even government-sponsored exploration. These images helped shape public perception. We see the canyon, but also the burgeoning industry behind landscape photography. Editor: That's fascinating; I never thought about the photograph itself as a commodity. Curator: Exactly! We’ve looked at the photograph as an object.