Gezicht op de Boulder Falls te Colorado before 1874

This photograph of Boulder Falls in Colorado was made by J. Collier, and it appears within a book. The image is of its time. The late 19th century saw a rise in landscape photography which served not only as art but also as documentation. Here, Boulder Falls is presented in a way that evokes the sublime, emphasizing the grandeur and untouched nature of the American West. Yet, the image is contained within a book, placed directly opposite text detailing irrigation ditches and the excellence of the soil in the Boulder Valley. The book's chapter on Boulder Canon describes the land as abundant in resources with industrious men who have done much to prove the richness of the territory. The photograph functions as an advertisement, enticing settlement and economic exploitation. The aesthetic appreciation of the scene is thus intertwined with its potential for agricultural development, reflecting the complex relationship between nature, progress, and institutional power at the time. To understand the image better, we might consult railway company records, which would provide insight into tourism and settlement during this period.