Berggezicht/Mont Blanc/Alpen [?] c. 1860 - 1880

This photograph of the Mont Blanc Alps was taken by the Bisson Frères sometime between 1852 and 1863. It’s a salted paper print from a collodion negative, processes that were at the cutting edge of photographic technology at the time. What is compelling about this image is not just the stark beauty of the landscape, but the sheer effort required to capture it. The Bisson brothers were pioneers, lugging heavy equipment up the mountains to make these exposures. They used the new medium to document the landscape, turning a scientific process into an artistic endeavor. Photography, with its capacity for seemingly objective truth, democratized image-making, although the labor involved remained considerable. The Bissons’ work bridges the gap between scientific exploration, artistic expression, and the burgeoning tourist industry, capturing the sublime beauty of the Alps for a rapidly expanding audience. It makes you consider the relationship between labor, technology, and the commodification of nature.