Clear-cut and burned, east of Arch Cape, Oregon 1975

Robert Adams made this gelatin silver print, titled 'Clear-cut and burned, east of Arch Cape, Oregon,' sometime in the late 20th century. The image presents us with a denuded landscape, a stark vista of environmental exploitation. The visual language is unsparing. Adams captures the brutal reality of clear-cut logging, an industry with deep historical roots in the Pacific Northwest. Geography, in this case, is destiny. Oregon's abundant forests have long been a source of economic wealth, but also of ecological conflict. This photograph doesn't shy away from showing us the consequences of our choices. It pointedly critiques the political economy that prioritizes short-term profit over long-term sustainability. To truly understand this image, one must delve into the history of logging practices, environmental policy, and the social movements that have challenged them. Art like this becomes a powerful form of social commentary, contingent on its historical context.