Man op een pad langs een water in de Gorges du Trient bij Valais before 1880

Here is a photograph by Auguste Garcin, showing a man on a path along the water in the Gorges du Trient, Switzerland. During the 19th century, the rise of landscape photography coincided with burgeoning scientific interest in geology and a romantic sensibility towards nature. The man in this image, dwarfed by the scale of the gorge, invites consideration of humanity’s relationship with the natural world. It represents a pivotal moment in the history of photography, capturing not just a scene, but also the complex intersections of identity, environment, and technological advancement. The image echoes the visual tropes found in sublime landscape painting, while Garcin’s artistic choices prompt us to consider the intertwined histories of environmental exploration and colonial expansion, as well as the impact on gendered identities. Garcin's photograph provides a lens through which to examine our perceptions of nature, technology, and self.