Lauterbrunnen c. 1910

Curator: This is A. G. Wehrli’s "Lauterbrunnen", a photograph held at the Harvard Art Museums. The image presents a classic vista of the Swiss Alps. Editor: My immediate sense is one of sublime isolation. The village nestled beneath those towering cliffs and cascading waterfalls feels incredibly remote. Curator: Indeed. This composition echoes the Romantic era's fascination with nature's overwhelming power. Waterfalls, especially, have long symbolized purity and transformation. Editor: Absolutely, and the image’s very existence speaks to the rise of tourism in the late 19th century. Wehrli's photograph served as a visual souvenir, shaping how the world perceived Switzerland. Curator: The photograph is as much about the feeling of being there as it is about the place itself. Editor: An enduring visual symbol of the Swiss landscape. Curator: I find myself imagining the cultural impact this artwork might have had for those who had never witnessed the Alps firsthand.