Gezicht op de Gotthardbahn bij Bellinzona before 1894

Giorgio Sommer created this photograph of the Gotthard Railway near Bellinzona. The image captures a moment in the late 19th century, a period marked by unprecedented industrial advancement and expansion. The Gotthard Railway, a marvel of engineering, physically embodied these shifts, connecting disparate regions and facilitating trade and travel. Sommer's decision to focus on the railway suggests an interest in documenting this transformation. The railway station dominates the landscape, which draws our attention to the industrial progress that dramatically altered both the physical and social landscape of Switzerland. Consider how the railway might have impacted labor practices, migration patterns, and even social mobility. With this in mind, contemplate what it might have felt like to witness such rapid change. Sommer invites us to reflect on our own relationship to progress, asking us to consider both its promises and its costs.