Gezicht op West Point, New York, gezien vanaf Fort Putnam 1863 - 1894

George Barker captured this stereoscopic view of West Point, New York, from Fort Putnam sometime in the late nineteenth century. In this period after the Civil War, the United States was experiencing significant growth and change, and photography played a crucial role in documenting and shaping national identity. Barker’s choice to photograph West Point from Fort Putnam subtly references the United States' military history. The perspective from the fort, a site of strategic importance during the Revolutionary War, invites viewers to reflect on themes of power, control, and the gaze. This composition highlights the relationship between landscape and national narrative, reminding us that the land itself is a site of history and identity. Barker's work invites us to consider whose perspectives are privileged and whose stories are told in the construction of national identity. By offering this “birdseye view”, Barker invites you to experience the land and contemplate what it represents, both personally and collectively.