Photographs from the American West

PhotoArtGifts, is pleased to announce the publication of “Photographs from the American West,” a series of limited edition giclée prints. Featuring historical photographs of the west and southwest taken between 1867 and 1910, the series focuses on the construction of the transcontinental railroad, Native Americans, and Santa Fe.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, the relatively new medium of photography was changing the way people saw the world. It was a powerful tool in capturing the American West. Either in professional or amateur capacity, photographers found much inspiration in the landscape and people of the vast expanse of newly acquired land. They used large format cameras and printed in albumen, platinum, silver gelatin, cyanotype, and photogravure.

This time period also brought about the construction and expansion of the transcontinental railroad, allowing people to travel faster than ever. This massive project involved thousands of men and changed the face of every town and settlement along the line. A.J. Russell documented the construction from Omaha, Nebraska, to Promontory, Utah, for the Union Pacific Railroad. Alexander Gardner, best known for his Civil War photographs, surveyed from Nebraska to California for the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Both these photographers produced early documentation of the landscape and civilization around the railroad.

Meanwhile, the loss of land and rights for the Native Americans was creating a dramatic shift in their traditional way of life. Moving to restrictive agencies and reservations meant changing their religion, clothing, language, crafts, diet, and so much more. Photographers such as Edward S. Curtis, Karl Moon, and Adam C. Vroman were interested in capturing and preserving the vanishing way of life of the Native American. Edward S. Curtis embarked on a 30 year project to throughly document each tribe of the North American Indian. Resulting in twenty sets of portfolios and volumes of text and images, it is one of the most comprehensive photographic projects of the 20th century. Karl Moon, a New Mexico based photographer, used lighting and posing to create a painterly and romantic view of Native American life. Adam C. Vroman was an accomplished traveler who photographed Indian life and landscapes throughout the Southwest.

Santa Fe photographers Henry Chase and Henry Brown worked in this small regional capital in the late 19th century. They focused their lenses on the changing frontier town, including views of downtown, San Francisco Street burros, and the Cathedral.

For over thirty years, the Andrew Smith Gallery has been Santa Fe's premier photography gallery. Recently expanding to the Grant Avenue location, next to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the gallery continues to showcase important classical and contemporary photographic works. PhotoArtGifts, the book and print store within the gallery, carries a collection of books and other gift items featuring the art of photography.

The giclée prints are 13 x 19". They are $35 each plus $10 shipping and handling.