Gezicht op de vallei van Lauterbrunnen before 1868

Editor: This is an intriguing print, a gelatin silver photograph entitled “Gezicht op de vallei van Lauterbrunnen”, dating back to before 1868. The composition is quite striking, vertical and somewhat claustrophobic. What feelings or interpretations does this landscape evoke in you? Curator: Well, initially, the almost severe contrast pulls me in. It whispers of Romantic ideals – a dance between the sublime and the overwhelming, wouldn’t you say? That very human compulsion to both witness and almost dissolve within nature’s immensity. But the photograph itself also interests me. Think about the relatively nascent technology capturing these ancient, towering forms. It is rather lovely to contemplate, isn’t it? Editor: It's a great point; I was focusing so much on the dramatic scenery I almost forgot about the historical context of the photograph itself. But it’s still quite muted somehow, tonally, isn’t it? Curator: Precisely! And consider that Romanticism wasn’t always about wild abandon. Sometimes, it was about finding the sacred in the quiet corners. Isn’t there almost an air of contemplation – like the artist or photographer sought to portray not the Valley's sheer size, but rather what lies inside. Editor: It seems to encourage some quiet meditation, it has made me stop and reflect, really look. Thanks. Curator: My pleasure, this image has an echo of my own journeys of introspection with mother nature. Happy to share it.