Gezicht op de Buerbreengletsjer bij Odda c. 1870 - 1900

Curator: The sepia tones and stark contrasts immediately give a sense of remoteness and isolation. Editor: Today, we’re exploring a photograph entitled "Gezicht op de Buerbreengletsjer bij Odda," or "View of the Buerbreen Glacier at Odda," captured by Knud Knudsen sometime between 1870 and 1900. I find the composition compelling; there’s a visual journey from the foreground’s rugged terrain to the dominating glacier. Curator: The glacier as a looming symbol of both immense power and fragility, feels particularly relevant to our current moment, given the climate crisis. There's also this persistent Western narrative of exploration and domination over nature that seems embedded here, given how this wilderness is being presented. I also read that women were prohibited from crossing the glacier until late into the 19th century! Editor: Symbolically, ice and glaciers often represent purity and the sublime, yet in Norse mythology, they are intrinsically tied to creation myths, chaos and destruction—which resonates with your take. It would be fascinating to see what Knudsens contemporaries thought about it. Note how small the bridge appears in the landscape, an element he uses to communicate nature’s magnitude. Curator: I’m drawn to consider the labor inherent in this photograph. From the porter who carried the equipment to Knudsen’s own physical effort. These efforts speak to the larger projects of resource extraction and capitalist expansion that often exploit both natural resources and human labor. Editor: Absolutely. These early photographs were a part of cultural projects to shape Norway's national identity too. Viewing these landscapes created and codified perceptions of place. A tangible artifact born from the land itself, rendered visible, its symbolism carries great weight. Curator: Thinking through gender and labour invites critical conversations. I'm struck by how photography has enabled very biased visions of this nation. Editor: Understanding the cultural encoding and what images communicate to later generations... it’s incredibly compelling and humbling to consider.