Cedar Swamp- Vermont 1931

Curator: Edwin Hale Lincoln’s 1931 photograph, “Cedar Swamp- Vermont,” a gelatin-silver print, really strikes a somber chord. Editor: It certainly does. The dense, shadowy thicket evokes a sense of both awe and slight unease, doesn’t it? There's a stillness, like the forest is holding its breath. Curator: Precisely. Notice how Lincoln utilizes the varying shades of grey to create depth? The almost oppressive density of the trees, rendered with such precise tonal variation, contributes to this effect. Consider also, the overall composition, with the framing done through placement of the trees; the work shows influences from pictorialism. Editor: I'm thinking about the physical process here. The gelatin-silver print, of course, a widely accessible yet potentially manipulative medium at the time, requiring careful chemical processing to achieve these contrasts. It really speaks to democratizing photography at the time, but also controlling every aspect to align with one’s creative vision. Also, I wonder about Lincoln’s intention by picking this particular location, especially in the middle of The Great Depression? The swamp may represent abandonment. Curator: An insightful interpretation. One could also argue that the repetition of vertical lines created by the trees establishes a visual rhythm, disrupted only by fallen branches, which are metaphors for chaos and unpredictability, speaking of mortality. It could also stand for a broader artistic concern, such as anxieties about progress and encroaching industrialization on the natural landscape. Editor: Definitely. By focusing on this cedar swamp, there is definitely a message about ecological fragility. I imagine the amount of work he would have put in it while out there is worth pondering as well. Every decision has an impact on shaping perceptions of place. Curator: Absolutely. When observed together, Lincoln gives an almost uncanny stillness and potential foreboding in nature and photographic art. Editor: Exactly, it reveals the depth of a landscape and a commitment to exploring how social meanings intertwine with it.