Nourmahal Cascade, and Gold Hunter's Cave 1875 - 1899

Editor: Here we have H.D. Udall's "Nourmahal Cascade, and Gold Hunter's Cave," taken sometime between 1875 and 1899. It's a photographic stereograph of a waterfall cascading into a dark, rocky opening. It's a bit stark and makes me think about how industrial progress affects natural landscapes. What's your take on this, seeing it through a more historical and theoretical lens? Curator: The very act of photographing the landscape, particularly during this period of industrial expansion, implicates the artist, and by extension, us, in a complex web of power relations. How might Udall's composition reinforce or perhaps even critique the prevailing ideologies about land, resources, and the romantic ideal of the "frontier"? This cave feels ominous and imposing. Editor: That’s a great point. The dark cave makes the small scale of the men even more apparent, dwarfed by nature. What does this photograph tell us about our understanding of labor in this context? Curator: The ‘gold hunter’ suggests a particular kind of extractive labor, often associated with colonial exploitation. How does Udall visually connect the natural elements with this notion of labor, potentially highlighting or challenging the period’s understanding of its effects on labor systems, Indigenous rights, and natural resources? Is he glorifying this encounter, or subtly critiquing it? And whose gaze are we adopting as we view it? Editor: I didn’t even think about whose perspective is at play. It’s a landscape but so much more! Thanks for showing me different dimensions to look for! Curator: And thank you for bringing a fresh perspective. These early landscape photographs often masked more complex narratives, and unpacking them sheds light on both past and present concerns.