A photochrom print by William Henry Jackson depicting the geothermal Pulpit Terraces in Yellowstone National Park, captured in the late 19th century.

This image captures the Pulpit Terraces within Yellowstone National Park, rendered through the photochrom process. William Henry Jackson, a photographer who documented the American West, utilised this technique to introduce colour to black-and-white negatives. The process involved creating multiple lithographic stones, each corresponding to a specific colour, which were then layered to produce the final print.

The composition focuses on the mineral-rich formations of the terraces, where geothermal activity has deposited layers of travertine. The foreground features a pool of water, reflecting the surrounding environment and the steam rising from the vents. The mid-ground shows the tiered structure of the terraces, while the background reveals the mountainous terrain of the park. The trees, sparse and weathered, provide a sense of scale against the geological formations.

Jackson was instrumental in the documentation of the American frontier. His photographs were used to support the establishment of Yellowstone as the first national park in the United States. The photochrom process, popularised by the Detroit Photographic Company, allowed for the mass production of these images, bringing the remote beauty of the American West to a wider audience. The colour palette is defined by earthy tones, ranging from ochre and rust to deep greens and muted blues, reflecting the unique mineral composition of the site. The print retains a sense of historical documentation, capturing a specific moment in the geological and environmental history of the region. The framing of the image, with its dark border, is characteristic of the presentation style of the era, often found in albums or as individual prints for collectors.