A surprise trove of early images, taken by unknown woman photographer, offers a rare view of the early 20th century West (via thknwco)
There are two ways to appreciate the images of south-central Wyoming captured in the early 20th century by Lora Webb Nichols and currently on display at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center.
The photos feel like a revelation, telling the story of a place and era few know deeply. But the exhibition is equally fascinating because of the way the curator uses it to tell Nichols’ own story. Notably, she turned her camera on other women — neighbors, relatives, school kids — creating an up-close view of a less visible class of early Westerners. There’s a striking naturalness to the work — even in her more formal portraits — that reveals both the challenges and casual joys of ranch and prairie life.
Nichols captured their settings as well as their faces. A 1902 image of Elva and Carrie Hinman, leaning over a fence and staring directly at the camera, is one example. The photographer pulls way back, so the fence is as much a part of the picture as the young women themselves, and the roof and chimney of their cabin home are visible in the background. Here, we get a glimpse of humans and their habitats and how those things were intertwined.