Three Brothers, Front View, 4480 Feet 1861

This albumen print of "Three Brothers, Front View, 4480 Feet" was created by Carleton Watkins at an unknown date. Watkins’s image brings to mind a pivotal period in American history and institutional development. This photograph was created during a time when the American West was being both celebrated and commodified. The large-scale format and meticulous detail evoke a sense of grandeur and untouched wilderness, fitting into the then-burgeoning tourism industry and the romanticization of the frontier. Note that this image was created before Yosemite became a national park. The presence of such photographs played a crucial role in fostering public awareness and support for land preservation. Such photographs shaped the cultural understanding of the American landscape, influencing both artistic and conservation movements. To fully understand the impact of this photograph, researchers can explore archives, newspapers, and institutional records that reveal the complex relationship between art, commerce, and environmental advocacy in 19th-century America.