Kulu, Spiti; Distant View of the Snowy Summits South of the Shigri Glacier c. 1867

Editor: This striking landscape photograph is titled "Kulu, Spiti; Distant View of the Snowy Summits South of the Shigri Glacier," by Samuel Bourne. It’s a very evocative image, but also quite imposing, even austere. What historical narratives do you see at play here? Curator: Bourne’s work, while visually stunning, carries the weight of colonial expansion. These images, documenting seemingly untouched landscapes, served to promote British interests and project power. How does understanding this context shift your perception of the photograph’s beauty? Editor: It's unsettling to think this majestic scene was used as a tool of dominance. Does the act of photographing a place inherently change it? Curator: Absolutely. Photography, especially in this era, was never neutral. It shaped perceptions, reinforced hierarchies, and facilitated the appropriation of land and resources. Reflecting on this, what responsibility do contemporary artists have when depicting landscapes? Editor: That's a powerful question. I hadn't considered the ethical dimensions so deeply before. Thanks for helping me see this work in a new light. Curator: And thank you for engaging with these important considerations. It is through this type of dialogue that we deepen our understanding of art's role in society.