Gezicht op Luzern met op de achtergrond de Pilatusberg before 1899

This photogravure of Lucerne with Mount Pilatus in the background was produced in Switzerland in 1899 by Photoglob & Co., a company specializing in views for the tourist trade. This image is more than just a pretty picture postcard. It encapsulates the transformation of the European landscape into a commodity. The late 19th century saw the rise of tourism, driven by the expansion of the railway and the increasing affluence of the middle classes. Companies like Photoglob catered to this demand, producing idealized images of picturesque locations, packaged and ready for consumption. The choice of viewpoint, the clarity of the image, and the emphasis on the sublime mountain backdrop all speak to the aesthetics of the tourist gaze. To understand this image fully, we need to delve into the archives, exploring the history of tourism, the development of photography, and the marketing strategies of companies like Photoglob. By doing so, we can understand how images like these shaped perceptions of place and contributed to the commodification of culture.