Gezicht op de Gotthardpas bij Giornico before 1898

This is a photograph of the Gotthard Pass near Giornico, Switzerland, presented in an unidentified publication. Its existence reflects the nineteenth-century's fascination with progress and accessibility. The image creates meaning through the cultural references it invokes, particularly around the idea of the sublime and the power of human engineering to overcome natural obstacles. Switzerland, with its dramatic geography, became a canvas for this ambition. As industrialization swept through Europe, the Gotthard Pass became a crucial site for infrastructure development, symbolizing the shrinking of distances and the integration of nations through trade and travel. It speaks to the complex relationship between technology, nature, and national identity. Understanding this image requires delving into the archives of engineering history, travel literature, and the political economy of 19th-century Europe. Art history is always contingent on social and institutional context.