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Looking South into the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, Sheavwitz
About the Artwork
From 1871 to 1873, General George M. Wheeler led the government-sponsored survey of lands west of the 100th meridian. Philadelphian William Bell served as the new staff photographer for the expedition into Arizona. Bell used dry plates of his own manufacture instead of the popular wet collodion process, thus freeing himself from the necessity of having a darkroom nearby whenever he wanted to expose a negative. The photographer's style was to create dramatic compositions emphasizing verticality. In this surprising juxtaposition of scale and perspective, he captured the sensation experienced by a spectator gazing down into a vast canyon below. Bell carefully included jutting rocks in the foreground to anchor the plunging perspective view down to the river. Glaring contrasts of light and shadow enrich the composition, focusing on the powerful forces of nature that created this rugged landscape.
Inscriptions
imprinted in black type on mount recto: "Explorations & Surveys West of the 100th Meridian" (symbol- eagle with coat of arms- with type)-"WAR DEPARTMENT" "CORPS. OF ENGINEERS.US.ARMY"; "Expedition of 1872- Lieut. Geo M. Wheeler Commanding"; "W. Bell.Phot.No. 9"; LOOKING SOUTH INTO THE GRAND CANON, COLORADO RIVER Sheavwitz Crossing"; in pencil "20(?) P1022"; in pencil on mount verso: "7500 25"
Exhibition history
Charles Isaacs and Carol Nigro Collection of American Photography. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (April 26-September 10, 2003). Icons of American Photography: A Century of Photographs from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24-September 16, 2007); Frick Art and Historical Center, Pittsburgh, PA (October 3, 2009-January 3, 2010).
Quick Overview
- Artist
- William H. Bell (American, 1830–1910)
- Date
- 1872
- Medium
- albumen print from wet collodion negative
- Dimensions
- Image: 27.5 x 20.3 cm (10 13/16 x 8 in.); Mounted: 50 x 39.4 cm (19 11/16 x 15 1/2 in.); Matted: 61 x 50.8 cm (24 x 20 in.)
- Type
- Photograph
- Classification
- Photograph
- Department
- Photography
- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Accession no.
- 2002.48
More by William H. Bell in museum collections
Data retrieved from the Cleveland Museum of Art on October 8, 2026. The museum may have updated its record since.
Open-access museum record · AT-00013001
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