Auld Reckie. C. Grove 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins made this circular photograph, "Auld Reckie," sometime in the 19th century. Watkins was part of a wave of photographers drawn to document the American West, often under the auspices of expansion and industry. Here, a towering sequoia stands as the picture's main subject, its scale emphasized by the couple posed at its base. They are adorned in the garb of the time, signifiers of a certain class and social standing. This image participates in the complicated narrative of the West as both an untouched Eden and a site ripe for claiming and consumption. Watkins’ photographs, while celebrated for their technical skill and aesthetic beauty, also promoted a particular vision of the land, one that often overshadowed the experiences and rights of indigenous peoples. "Auld Reckie," while a stunning portrait of nature's majesty, invites us to reflect on the complex layers of history, power, and representation embedded within its frame.