Gezicht op Luzern, met op de achtergrond de Rigi-berg before 1898

Curator: Here we have a striking, though modestly scaled, photographic print entitled "Gezicht op Luzern, met op de achtergrond de Rigi-berg," or "View of Lucerne, with Mount Rigi in the background." It's believed to predate 1898. Editor: There's a quiet beauty here, a serenity almost. The bridge dominates the view but then your eye is drawn upwards, across the water, to the suggestion of mountains beyond. Curator: This cityscape really captures a moment in the transformation of Lucerne. We see both the older, defensive structures like the tower, cheek by jowl with modern infrastructure – the bridge. Editor: Exactly. This juxtaposition raises interesting questions about progress and preservation. The very act of photographing Lucerne became part of the city’s image-making and promotion for the tourist industry. And of course the industry only grew in Switzerland! Curator: A critical observation, especially given the era. As photography became more accessible, it played an important role in shaping the world's perception and marketing a sense of place to travelers, enticing them to experience the picturesque scenery firsthand, especially of locations like Lucerne and the Rigi. The composition directs you in terms of what to view and perhaps how to interpret it. Editor: True, these images often sanitized reality, portraying an idyllic scene while ignoring the complex social issues or labour exploitation involved in building the tourism industry itself. So who were allowed access, whose perspectives and experiences were deemed to matter? Curator: And it is important to note how choices of angles, of viewpoint are never truly neutral. This, alongside selection of framing devices were very intentional actions on the part of the artist. And were very dependent upon the social environment and trends of the day. Editor: It's more than just a pretty view, it's a curated vision reflecting very definite socio-political priorities. Thanks for bringing that to life for me. Curator: And thanks for ensuring we read such images, old and new, with critical awareness.