Spiti River Bed c. 1860s

Curator: Francis Frith's "Spiti River Bed," housed at the Harvard Art Museums, feels almost lunar in its stark beauty. It's an albumen print, a process rendering incredible detail. Editor: My first impression is one of desolation. The monochrome palette emphasizes the harsh, unforgiving terrain. This image echoes colonial narratives of exploration and domination. Curator: Yes, Frith was very much a part of that Victorian project, capturing landscapes that were both alien and ripe for exploitation. But look at how he renders the light, almost painterly. Editor: The romanticism is undeniable, but we must also acknowledge the ways in which these images served to exoticize and subjugate colonized lands. It's a double-edged sword. Curator: Absolutely, a complex dance between aesthetic appreciation and critical awareness. I find it breathtaking in its starkness. Editor: And I find it a crucial document of a complicated past, forcing us to confront the power dynamics inherent in representation.