Gezicht op het Mer de Glace in de Zwitserse Alpen vanaf de Montenvert c. 1871

This photograph of the Mer de Glace glacier in the Swiss Alps was taken by Florentin Charnaux, sometime in the mid-19th century. As photography became more accessible, it was increasingly used to document landscapes, which played a crucial role in shaping European perceptions of nature. The Alps, previously seen as forbidding, were being re-imagined as sublime destinations. This shift coincided with emerging ideas about environmentalism and conservation. Charnaux’s photograph captures the emotional weight of witnessing something so immense and powerful. It invites us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world. How do we see ourselves in relation to these landscapes? Today, as we confront a rapidly changing climate, photographs like these serve as historical markers, reminding us of a landscape now altered. They urge us to consider our role in shaping the environment, as well as the emotional and personal dimensions of environmental loss.