Niagara Falls from the American Side

Accession Number
1991/2.96

Title
Niagara Falls from the American Side

Artist(s)
George Barker

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
circa 1888-1890

Medium & Support
albumen print on paper

Dimensions
17 1/4 in x 15 3/4 in (43.8 cm x 40 cm);14 5/16 in x 19 7/16 in (36.3 cm x 49.3 cm);9 3/4 in x 7 5/8 in (24.7 cm x 19.4 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Two Friends of the Museum

Subject matter
Taken from an overlook, this photograph depicts a view of Niagara Falls looking South towards Horseshoe Falls. In the lower left of the foreground, a cluster of sticks and branches litter a craggy overhang, the black silhouettes of trees lining the edge of the image. Positioned perilously beyond, the outline of a fenced walkway stretches out onto the boulders protruding out from the powerful gushing of the falls. Beyond this walkway, a glimpse of the wide ring of the Horseshoe Falls is evident, the glassy water gleams in the sunlight as it pours off the edge of the cliff. The power of the falls’ cascades sends huge clouds of mist upwards, which begin to meld with the sky above, obscuring the far right of the image. On the horizon, the steep riverbanks above the falls form a dark horizontal band, outlining the brightness of the river. A sky of cumulus clouds hangs above the scene, appearing serene and still when compared to the torrents of water surging below.

Physical Description
Taken from a rocky ledge, this photograph depicts a view of a large waterfall surging over a cliffside.

Primary Object Classification
Photograph

Collection Area
Photography

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
cascades (water features)
cliffs
clouds
overlooks
rapids
riverbanks
riverine bodies of water
rivers
trees
waterfalls
waterfalls (natural bodies of water)

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted