Gezicht op de Jungfrau, de Mönch en de Eiger vanaf de Kleine Scheidegg c. 1871

Florentin Charnaux made this photograph of the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger mountains from Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland, sometime in the 19th century. During this era, photography emerged as a powerful medium for documenting and promoting the sublime beauty of the Swiss Alps. Capturing the scale of nature, the image creates meaning through cultural references and historical associations. The Alps became a symbol of national identity and a source of inspiration for artists and writers. Switzerland's burgeoning tourism industry shaped the production and reception of such images. Consider how the proliferation of alpine imagery contributed to the construction of a national myth and the commodification of the natural landscape. To understand the image better, we might consult historical archives, travel guides, and visual culture studies, thereby revealing the intricate relationship between art, commerce, and national identity in 19th-century Switzerland.