[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins made this albumen print of Yosemite National Park. The process of making an albumen print involves coating paper with a layer of egg white and then sensitizing it with silver nitrate. The process is finicky, needing perfect conditions, and the final result gives off warmth and luminosity. The visual qualities of the albumen print – its sepia tones and fine details – significantly shape our encounter with this image, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the rapidly changing American landscape. Watkins’s work was not just about art; it was deeply enmeshed with industry and commerce. His photographs of Yosemite were instrumental in convincing Congress to protect the valley in 1864. Watkins understood that photographs could have political and economic influence, helping to transform natural resources into national treasures. The sheer amount of work and skill involved elevates this photograph far beyond a mere snapshot.