Monte Disgrazia, Piz Roseg, The Engadine 1921

Curator: A. G. Wehrli’s silver gelatin print, titled "Monte Disgrazia, Piz Roseg, The Engadine," presents a stark mountainscape. Editor: It's so bleak, almost oppressive. The contrast between light and shadow is really intense; it emphasizes the inhospitable nature of the landscape. Curator: Right, and consider the social context. Mountaineering was becoming popular at this time, signifying a certain conquering of nature. The labor involved in producing these images, and the materials themselves, reflect a specific era of exploration and consumption. Editor: Exactly. And it's not a neutral act, either. Who gets to experience this "untouched" nature? Who profits from it? These power dynamics are embedded in the visual history of landscape photography. Curator: It's a good reminder to consider the human impact behind even the most seemingly objective depictions. Editor: Absolutely. It makes you consider whose perspectives are privileged and who is excluded from this narrative.