Ingang van een ijsgrot op Tenerife 1856 - 1858

This photograph of an ice cave entrance on Tenerife was made in the mid-19th century by Charles Piazzi Smyth. While seemingly a straightforward record of a geological feature, this image connects to the social history of scientific exploration. Photography at this time was becoming increasingly important as a tool of documentation, particularly for expeditions to remote or exotic locations. Smyth, as an astronomer, was interested in the clarity of the atmosphere on Tenerife for astronomical observation, and his photographs are tied to his scientific goals. The image speaks to the Victorian era's fascination with the natural world, alongside an impulse to classify and record it through the technologies of the time. Examining photographs like this in the context of exploration narratives and scientific publications of the period reveals the complex interplay between science, art, and imperial expansion. To delve deeper, one might consult the records of scientific societies, travelogues, and photographic journals of the 19th century.