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Iceberg Canyon, Colorado River Looking Above
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Timothy H. O'Sullivan served on the first and last seasons (1871-73) of the geographical expedition, led by Lieutenant George Montague Wheeler, to explore and map lands west of the 100th meridian. Wheeler sought an inland passage for troops from Idaho and Utah southward to Arizona and desired to document the topography to benefit future settlement. O'Sullivan's unequaled experience in the field earned him a boat of his own, <em>Picture</em>, from which he slowly explored the canyons from his low vantage point on the Colorado River. In this carefully composed picture of Iceberg Canyon, he seamlessly blended documentary and aesthetic interests, bringing formal and geological order to what is perhaps his best photograph taken along the Colorado. Contemplating the beautiful scenery, the centrally positioned, seated figure introduces human participation to a scene of geological wonder.
| Artist / Maker | Timothy H. O’Sullivan |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1871 |
| Culture / Origin | America |
| Medium | albumen print from wet collodion negative |
| Dimensions | Image: 20.2 x 27.3 cm (7 15/16 x 10 3/4 in.); Mounted: 35.5 x 45.7 cm (14 x 18 in.); Matted: 50.8 x 61 cm (20 x 24 in.) |
| Department | Photography |
| Type | Photograph |
About the Artist
Timothy H. O'Sullivan American, b. Ireland?, 1840-1882 An important photographer of the American Civil War, Timothy O'Sullivan worked first for Mathew Brady, then Alexander Gardner in their Washington, D.C., studios, producing some of the war's best known images. The son of Irish immigrants, whether O'Sullivan was born in New York or Ireland remains unresolved. His photographs appear in Gardner's classic volumes, Photographic Incidents of the War (1863) and Photographic Sketchbook of the War (1866). After the war's end, O'Sullivan became… Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
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