Zuni, Watching 1879 - 1881

This is John K. Hillers' photograph titled "Zuni, Watching," made in the late 19th century. Hillers was a photographer for the U.S. Geological Survey, documenting the American West at a time when westward expansion and government-sponsored expeditions were dramatically reshaping Indigenous life. The image shows a Zuni individual, gazing off to the side, their expression unreadable. Note how the photograph constructs a specific image of Native Americans, one that emphasizes a sense of the "noble savage," while also placing them as objects of scientific observation. The cultural context here is crucial. Photography at this time was often used as a tool of colonial power, reinforcing existing social hierarchies and cultural biases. Hillers' photographs, while seemingly objective, are products of their time, reflecting the prevailing attitudes towards Native Americans. To fully understand this image, historians can turn to archival materials, government documents, and the oral histories of the Zuni people themselves. Art becomes most meaningful when we understand the social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.