Man in een grot in Yosemite Valley, Californië before 1886

Curator: Here we have a print titled "Man in een grot in Yosemite Valley, Californië" or "Man in a Cave in Yosemite Valley, California" by Carleton Watkins, made before 1886. What do you think of it? Editor: It's intriguing. At first glance, it has this intimate quality, like peeking into a hidden world. The contrast between the darkness of the cave and the brightness outside creates this immediate sense of mystery. What drew Watkins to this specific scene, do you think? Curator: Well, Watkins was one of the foremost landscape photographers of the American West. He was documenting the vastness and sublime beauty of places like Yosemite, which, interestingly, played a role in convincing President Lincoln to designate it as a protected park. He really believed that showing these amazing landscapes was crucial to preserving them. Editor: So the politics of landscape! I’m seeing now, the work feels grand, a gesture towards preservation. Curator: Precisely. Now consider that this isn’t just a picture of Yosemite; it’s about humans within it. There’s a man in that cave! It brings a more intimate scale to the photograph. Editor: Right! At first it's about grandeur and scale, but there’s also a touch of human drama in there too, huddled into the rock of that cave. I wonder what the photographer saw? Curator: Watkins would’ve likely used a large-format camera, meaning long exposure times. Can you imagine the man standing still for that duration in the damp cave, just so Watkins can present the majestic American West to the urban dwellers of the East? Editor: It sounds like a rather grueling performance to take a photograph! Knowing all of this enriches my understanding – there is such intimacy between the landscape, man, and camera. A wonderful thought, indeed. Curator: Indeed. Watkins' dedication is evident. His work played a vital role in how the American West was understood, inspiring awe and fostering a sense of responsibility towards its preservation. Editor: So, from a cave in Yosemite to national preservation efforts. Quite the narrative encapsulated in a single print.