Gezicht op de Gotthardbahn bij Faïdo c. 1885 - 1892

Giorgio Sommer captured this photograph of the Gotthard Railway near Faido. The dominant symbol here is, without a doubt, the tunnel—a piercing void carved into the heart of the mountain. The tunnel has long been a potent symbol, evoking the passage through the unknown, a journey into the earth's depths, reminiscent of ancient myths of underworld journeys. This motif echoes through time, appearing in diverse contexts. The tunnel is present, for example, in the pyramids of Giza, where narrow corridors guided pharaohs to the afterlife. The photograph has a psychological weight, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The tunnel is a testament to human ambition, a desire to conquer nature, to penetrate its mysteries, and to connect disparate realms. But we also know of the dark side of the tunnel, the mines of Germany and the concentration camps. This symbol, whether as a gateway to spiritual enlightenment or a tool of conquest, has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings across different eras.