Ebnefluh, Mittaghorn, Grosshorn, Breithorn and Tschingelhorn, Bernese Oberland 1908

Editor: This photograph, "Ebnefluh, Mittaghorn, Grosshorn, Breithorn and Tschingelhorn, Bernese Oberland" by A. G. Wehrli, gives me a sense of the sublime. What's striking to you? Curator: It's interesting to see how Wehrli uses photography, traditionally a documentary medium, to evoke a sense of awe. Consider the rise of alpinism in the late 19th century and the growing fascination with the 'untamed' landscape. Do you think this image reflects or challenges that romanticization? Editor: I think it both reflects and challenges it; the landscape is beautiful and formidable but also seems very still. I hadn't considered the context of alpinism, though. Curator: Exactly! The image becomes less about pure landscape and more about humanity’s evolving relationship with nature, shaped by leisure, exploration, and even conquest. Editor: That's given me a lot to think about, especially regarding the cultural factors that affect art. Curator: Indeed, viewing art through the lens of its historical and social context truly enhances our understanding.