Gezicht op Milders in het Stubaital 1860 - 1870

Curator: This photograph, titled "Gezicht op Milders in het Stubaital," thought to be captured sometime between 1860 and 1870 by the studio of Ferrier Pére-Fils et Soulier, offers us a fascinating glimpse into a past vista. It is such an appealing instance of the firm’s commercial views of various parts of Europe. Editor: It has this quiet stillness, doesn’t it? Almost like holding your breath. The layers of muted grays and whites… it's more mood than picture, somehow, a lullaby of the Alps. I find it interesting to experience how photography once aspired to have painterly affectations. Curator: Indeed! Think of how photography was often used to not just record, but also construct, social and cultural perceptions. The Stubaital was and remains an important tourist area, so photographs such as these also operated as a sort of pre-Instagram, an opportunity for consumers to share "exotic" scenery for local consumption. Also, consider that its creation coincides with an emerging European sense of itself: documentation helped consolidate narratives and, certainly, solidify stereotypes. Editor: Absolutely. I think that the framing—the way the valley is compressed and the town seems almost like a child's toys nestled into place—speaks to that very carefully curated vision. This photographer wants us to feel safe, to have a sense of peace…but it's very controlled. How does its very commercial aspect and distribution inform this? Curator: It touches on something quite compelling: it gives consumers who have been there, a place to remember. In an attempt to evoke emotional resonances with its photographic rendering, a kind of "photographic fiction," one could argue! However, this artistic strategy may be perceived in the realm of representation with certain reservations given their capacity to shape understandings and legitimize particular historical and societal attitudes, perpetuating existing narratives. Editor: Well, its capacity to continue prompting questions remains striking. A tiny Tyrolian poem in shades of gray. Curator: Exactly, and like a poem, we get to create new verses of interpretations through its public availability!