Father of the Forest
1865–66, printed ca. 1876
Medium
Albumen silver print from glass negative
Classification
Photographs
Department
Photographs
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Carole and Irwin Lainoff, Ruth P. Lasser and Joseph R. Lasser, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Marvin, Martin E. and Joan Messinger, Richard L. Yett and Sheri and Paul Siegel, 1986
Accession Number
1986.1189.64
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the majestic world of 19th-century American wilderness with *Father of the Forest*, a stunning albumen silver print by E. Watkins, captured around 1865–66 and printed circa 1876. This immortalizes a colossal sequoia tree—likely from California's Calaveras Grove or Yosemite—towering like a natural cathedral amid the forest. Watkins, a pioneering landscape photographer, used his massive glass-plate negatives to reveal the sublime scale and intricate details of these ancient giants, evoking awe at nature's grandeur. The albumen silver print process, popular in the era, involved coating paper with egg whites for a glossy surface that captured rich tones and fine textures, making Watkins' images some of the era's most technically advanced. His work emerged during the post-Gold Rush exploration of the American West, where photographs like this promoted national conservation efforts. President Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant in 1864 partly inspired by such visuals, paving the way for the national park system. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, *Father of the Forest* reminds us of Watkins' role in shaping environmental awareness. Imagine standing before this print: a timeless testament to humanity's humbling encounter with untamed landscapes.
About the Artist
Carleton E. Watkins · 1829–1916
Carleton E. Watkins (1829–1916), one of America's pioneering landscape photographers, was born on November 11, 1829, in Oneonta, New York, the eldest of eight children to carpenter John Watkins and innkeeper Julia. Drawn by the Gold Rush, he arrived in San Francisco in 1851 at age 22 alongside childhood friend Collis Huntington, who later became a railroad tycoon. Initially working as a carpenter ...