Gezicht op een dorp in Graubünden before 1868

This albumen print, "Gezicht op een dorp in Graubünden," or "View of a Village in Graubünden," by Stephen Thompson invites us to consider how photography shapes our understanding of place. The image, likely created in the late 19th century, captures a village nestled in the Swiss Alps. In this era, photography played an important role in constructing national identities and promoting tourism. Images like this helped to romanticize the Swiss landscape, attracting visitors and reinforcing ideas about the country's natural beauty. Thompson’s choice of perspective flattens the village into an element of the topography and reflects how Switzerland's remoteness became a source of cultural pride and revenue in the age of mass tourism. Understanding this image requires us to consider the history of photography, tourism, and Swiss national identity. By exploring these themes, we can better appreciate the complex relationship between art, society, and culture.