Lyskamm, from the Lys-gloria c. 1890

Curator: Here we have Vittorio Sella's "Lyskamm, from the Lys-gloria," part of his extensive work documenting the Alps. Editor: Wow, it's breathtaking! All that stark white against the craggy dark rock—it feels both formidable and fragile. Curator: Sella's photographs were groundbreaking; he captured the scale and majesty of the mountains at a time when alpine photography was still developing. His work challenges the romanticized view of nature as purely benevolent. Editor: I can almost feel the cold just looking at it. It makes me think about the colonial gaze and the history of exploration. It also makes me want a hot chocolate! Curator: Indeed, the history of mountaineering is intertwined with colonial narratives. Sella's work, while visually stunning, also prompts us to consider these complexities. Editor: Absolutely, and seeing it now, through a contemporary lens, it becomes a portrait of a landscape under threat. Curator: Precisely, it’s a powerful reminder of what's at stake and what we risk losing.