Mt. Harvard, Sawatch Range, View South on Arkansas River c. 1870

Editor: Here we have William Henry Jackson's photograph, "Mt. Harvard, Sawatch Range, View South on Arkansas River." The sepia tones create a stunning vista. What statements do you believe this piece makes? Curator: Jackson's photographs, seemingly objective landscapes, played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of the American West, facilitating westward expansion and often obscuring the violent displacement of Indigenous peoples. Whose stories are missing from this picturesque view? Editor: I never considered that. How did these images influence policy? Curator: These romanticized views were weaponized to justify resource extraction and settlement, ignoring the environmental impact and erasing Indigenous land claims. We must unpack these layers. Editor: So, the beauty is intertwined with a darker history. Curator: Precisely. Acknowledging this duality is critical to understanding the complex legacy of landscape photography and its role in shaping narratives of power. Editor: I see the piece in a whole new light now. Curator: Excellent! We must question whose perspectives are privileged and whose are marginalized.