Gezicht door een tunnel in Brattlandsdalen before 1893

Paul Lange captured this black and white photograph titled "Gezicht door een tunnel in Brattlandsdalen". It gives us a glimpse into the late 19th-century fascination with landscapes, particularly as they intersected with developing infrastructure. The tunnel, carved through the imposing Brattlandsdalen mountains, represents a significant human intervention in the natural world. There's a palpable tension here, isn't there? On one hand, the tunnel symbolizes progress, an overcoming of geographical barriers. On the other, it feels like an imposition, a disruption of the sublime, untouched wilderness. Think about it. A man stands at the end of the tunnel and the photograph gives us a sense of the complex relationship between humanity and nature during the industrial era. Lange encourages us to consider our role as spectators, and whether we are passing through or pausing to reflect.