Matterhorn, Rothhorn and Dent Blanche from the E. Ridge of the Weisshorn, Zermat c. 1885

Editor: This is Vittorio Sella's photograph, "Matterhorn, Rothhorn and Dent Blanche from the E. Ridge of the Weisshorn, Zermat" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's striking how the peaks seem to pierce the sky. What do you see in this photograph? Curator: The mountains themselves, especially the Matterhorn, carry immense symbolic weight. They represent the sublime, the unattainable, a challenge to human ambition and a spiritual connection to nature. Do you feel a sense of yearning when you look at them? Editor: Absolutely, there’s a real sense of longing and awe. It’s amazing how photographs can transmit such powerful feelings. Curator: Consider too, the cultural memory of these mountains—for generations, they have held significance, from folklore to modern tourism. Sella captured more than just a landscape; he captured an idea. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Now I see how much deeper the image really is.