Gezicht op de North Dome, de Royal Arches en de Washington Column in de Yosemite Valley before 1868

Curator: This is "View of the North Dome, the Royal Arches, and the Washington Column in the Yosemite Valley," a gelatin silver print from before 1868, by Carleton Watkins. It exemplifies the Hudson River School aesthetic through photography. Editor: It’s a study in contrasts, isn't it? The sheer verticality of the cliffs versus the densely packed trees—a very stark depiction of land, claiming itself. It really highlights the power dynamic between nature's imposing scale, and what could be perceived as 'the smaller things.' Curator: Indeed, the composition directs the eye upward, emphasizing the monumental forms. Note how Watkins uses light and shadow to define the geological structures. This use of chiaroscuro brings forth depth to the rocky surface, further articulated by dark bands of foliage. Editor: Yes, and these visual elements carry a loaded history. The sublime natural landscape presented here acted as an invitation for the westward expansion into indigenous lands, masking dispossession with aesthetic appreciation. There is the complex irony that the 'virgin' beauty touted here involved violent erasure. Curator: Precisely. Yet one cannot ignore how he achieves visual unity, primarily with horizontal lines found in the arrangement of shadow along the vertical expanse, which lends a structural stability despite its naturalness. Editor: I acknowledge its compositional merit. However, let's consider how that order facilitates the national project. Photography like this was used by lawmakers to create the very idea of a national park, preserving it for an idealised public, whilst ignoring ancestral claims from the native tribes to the very land being recorded. The act of picturing natural scenes becomes a powerful tool, which comes before action. Curator: So, while appreciating Watkins' technical expertise and eye for form, it's critical to recognize the loaded history of this iconic vista. Editor: Ultimately, grappling with that historical burden deepens our understanding of its contemporary resonances. We can look with clarity now.