Piz Bernina, 4052 m, Gipfelgrat., The Engadine 1921

Curator: This photograph by A. G. Wehrli captures Piz Bernina's summit in the Engadine. It's a silver gelatin print, a relatively accessible medium that allowed for wide distribution. The dimensions are approximately 16 by 22 cm. Editor: The stark monochrome creates a sense of cold, imposing grandeur. The sharp peaks against the swirling clouds evoke vulnerability and our relationship to natural power. Curator: Exactly. Think about the darkroom process. Each print is a result of labor, time, and material transformation. Consider, too, the consumption of mountain imagery within a burgeoning tourist industry. Editor: Yes, and the image romanticizes the sublime, obscuring labor and access. Who gets to experience this vista? How does this impact the landscape's representation? Curator: It's crucial to consider these questions. Photography, then and now, mediates our relationship to the environment. Editor: This piece prompts us to question how such images shape perceptions of access, privilege, and environmental impact. Curator: Absolutely. It allows us to look beyond the surface beauty. Editor: Indeed, a challenging yet compelling piece.