Pass in the Raccoon Range. Whiteside No. 1 1864

Curator: This is George Norman Barnard's photograph, "Pass in the Raccoon Range. Whiteside No. 1," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The image shows a landscape dominated by a massive wooden trestle. Editor: My first thought? It's a raw landscape with just a touch of the surreal; these tiny figures contrast so dramatically with the industrial scale. Curator: The trestle is a fascinating symbol here. Railroads were harbingers of immense change, both connecting and dividing communities. Editor: Absolutely. It feels like a delicate but violent disruption of the landscape. Like an unnatural scar, in a way. I wonder if the photographer thought that too? Curator: It’s a potent blend of progress and destruction. Food for thought on the impact of industry. Editor: Indeed. It’s not always easy to digest.