Gezicht op de Rhônegletsjer after 1873

This stereoscopic photograph of the Rhone Glacier was created by Florentin Charnaux in the 19th century. At this time, photography was becoming increasingly sophisticated and more accessible. Although not usually considered a craft, the production of photographs such as these combined technical mastery with artistic skill. The artist had to master the science of capturing an image using light-sensitive materials and understand how to manipulate the chemical processes to achieve the desired aesthetic result. Looking at the print itself, we can see the delicate balance of light and shadow, the careful composition of the scene, and the way the image invites the viewer to feel as though they are really there, looking out at the vista. This combination of technical skill and aesthetic sensibility challenges traditional distinctions between art and craft. In its time, photographs were consumed widely, and as such it also presents interesting questions around labour, industrialisation, and politics.