Piz Roseg, Piz Bernina and Piz Scerscen from Fourcla Surlej, Engadine c. 1850s

Curator: Adolphe Braun's photograph captures Piz Roseg, Piz Bernina, and Piz Scerscen from Fourcla Surlej in the Engadine. It feels monumental, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely! The sheer scale of the mountains, emphasized by that stark contrast between light and shadow, evokes a sense of sublime power and vulnerability. Curator: Braun, active in the mid-19th century, often photographed the Alps, contributing to evolving notions of landscape and national identity. Editor: I notice how the glacier snakes through the valley, a symbol of both formidable strength and, perhaps, of time's relentless march. Curator: It’s interesting to consider the socio-political context. Braun’s landscapes romanticized the Alps for an urban audience increasingly disconnected from nature. Editor: The peaks themselves, shrouded in snow, almost become sacred, eternal symbols of nature's indifference to human affairs. It's powerful! Curator: Indeed, this photograph prompts reflection on our complex relationship with the natural world, both then and now. Editor: It makes me wonder about the stories embedded in these landscapes, the memories held within the ice and rock.