Minerva Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs c. 1880s

Editor: This striking photograph by F. Jay Haynes captures the Minerva Terrace at Mammoth Hot Springs. It's amazing to see the almost architectural formations created by nature. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, it's tempting to see this as a straightforward landscape. But consider the context: Haynes was documenting Yellowstone during a period of intense industrialization and westward expansion. These images not only celebrated the sublime beauty, but they also shaped narratives around land use, conservation, and who had access to this "natural" resource. Who do you think these images were for? Editor: I guess wealthy Easterners, or maybe even Europeans? Curator: Exactly. And what narratives about the West do you think these images reinforced for them? It's more complex than just a pretty picture. Editor: That's a good point; it makes me think about the power dynamics in these images. Curator: Precisely. Understanding art means looking beyond the surface and seeing the social forces at play.