Gezicht op de berg Schlern in de Dolomieten, Italië before 1878

This albumen print of the Schlern mountain in the Dolomites, Italy, was made by Eugène Goblet d'Alviella. It's a photograph, of course, a relatively new medium at this time. Photographs like this one represent the industrialization of seeing. The image’s sepia tones and sharp details, achieved through meticulous darkroom processes, highlight the geological grandeur and romantic sublimity of nature. The question of labor is interesting here: while photography democratized image-making, allowing for easy reproduction, the process also demanded specialized expertise. In contrast to painting, which bore the unmistakable mark of the artist's hand, the photographer's labor often remained obscured, as they captured landscapes marked by different forms of labor and tourism. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to think about the intersection of nature, technology, and human experience. It transcends the traditional boundaries of fine art, forging new ways of seeing and representing the world around us.