Zermatt und Matterhorn c. 1920s

Editor: Here we have A.G. Wehrli's photograph, "Zermatt und Matterhorn." The detail in the town nestled at the foot of such a majestic mountain is quite striking. What do you see when you look at this piece? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image, a commodity created for consumption. The photograph itself, its production and distribution, speaks to a burgeoning tourist industry and the commercialization of the Alpine landscape. How were these images sold and consumed? Editor: That's a great question! It makes you wonder about the working conditions of the photographer and the accessibility of these images. I never thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly! By considering the materials and processes, we uncover the social and economic context in which this artwork was created and circulated.