[Yosemite National Park, California] 1876 - 1880

Carleton Watkins created this photograph of Yosemite National Park using albumen silver print. Here, the mountain becomes a powerful symbol of nature's grandeur, towering like an ancient deity over the landscape. Consider how mountains appear in the works of Caspar David Friedrich, where peaks are spiritual symbols, and in Chinese landscape paintings where mountains embody cosmic order. This enduring motif speaks to our collective fascination with the sublime. Mountains in art are more than geological formations; they are metaphors for human aspiration, spiritual quests, and the untamed aspects of our inner selves. Watkins’ photograph captures not just a place, but a timeless emotional state, where the monumental scale of nature humbles and inspires. It reminds us of the cyclical nature of symbols, echoing across cultures and epochs.