Mt. Paiju, from Baltoro Glacier c. 1909

Curator: Looking at this photograph of Mt. Paiju, captured by Vittorio Sella, I'm struck by the sheer force of nature, a kind of raw, majestic indifference. It's almost gothic, don't you think? Editor: It is visually stunning, yes. But Sella’s photographs, taken on expeditions around the turn of the century, also raise questions about whose stories are being told and how. These images helped construct narratives of exploration and conquest. Curator: That’s a valid point. I suppose there's a romanticized notion of the lone adventurer that we tend to project onto these images. But Sella's technical skill is undeniable; the way he captures the light on the snow, the texture of the rock...it’s almost sculptural. Editor: Precisely. By focusing on the aesthetic, we risk overlooking the colonial gaze inherent in landscape photography of this era. Curator: So, can we appreciate the artistry without ignoring the history? Is it possible to hold both in our minds at once? Editor: I think we have a responsibility to. It's about seeing the complexities, not erasing them. Curator: Well, I'm left contemplating the weight of both the mountain and history, and wondering how we move forward with clearer vision. Editor: Indeed, and perhaps by deconstructing these images, we can begin to build more equitable narratives of our relationship with the natural world.