Linthal, Zwitserland c. 1890 - 1925

This photograph of Linthal, Switzerland, was made by Photoglob & Co. using a process that transformed light into a captured image. The material of photography – light-sensitive chemicals on paper – renders the scene in shades of grey, emphasizing the textures of the mountain, village, and sky. Think about the labor involved: from the industrial production of photographic materials to the photographer's work of composing the shot, developing the image, and making prints. This was all part of a burgeoning tourist industry. The photograph translates the grandeur of the Swiss Alps into a commodity, a souvenir that flattens the landscape into a portable, reproducible image, reflecting a shift towards mass production and consumption. Considering photography as a craft challenges traditional distinctions between art and industry. It allows us to see the cultural and economic forces at play in how we view and value the world.