George Barker

George Barker was a photographer active throughout the mid-to-late nineteenth century, documenting large-scale natural landscapes between 1850 and 1888. His body of work largely concentrated on iconic North American sites, most notably captured in the extensive photographic series "Niagara Falls, New York."

Barker specialized in dramatic scenic views that often emphasized the monumental scale of the landscape. Notable works held in collections include specific documentation of the region, such as Sunset, Horseshoe Fall - Niagara, No. 292 and Niagara - Ice Mountain and American Fall. The range of his subjects extended beyond New York, evidenced by the Florida-based work Silver Springs, Florida.

Eleven photographs by Barker are represented in major institutional holdings, establishing his significance in historical landscape photography. His works are preserved in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery of Art, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, many of George Barker’s historical images, valued for their detail and composition, are accessible as high-quality prints and reside within the public domain.