Gezicht op de besneeuwde berghellingen van Adelboden met rechts een man op een slee c. 1880 - 1900

Editor: Here we have a gelatin silver print, circa 1880 to 1900, by Nikles, showing a view of snowy mountain slopes at Adelboden, with a man on a sled. The high contrast between the snow and dark trees is really striking. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image within the context of technological advancements. The gelatin silver print process allowed for mass production and dissemination of images. It moves photography beyond portraiture into documentation. Who had access to this technology and who was represented in these images? This wasn't a universal experience. Editor: So you're saying that this image isn't just a pretty picture of the Swiss Alps. It also tells a story about access to technology. Curator: Exactly. And about leisure. Sledding as recreation presumes a certain level of economic freedom, wouldn’t you agree? It suggests a societal shift, where activities like these aren't necessities for survival but recreational pursuits. It opens questions about industrial development. Editor: That makes me think about how this contrasts with the lives of people who worked in factories at this time. Was the technology behind the photo industry contributing to exploitation, while at the same time helping promote idyllic escapes like this? Curator: Precisely. The materials used - the silver, gelatin, paper - were extracted and manufactured within specific socio-economic frameworks. Understanding that process reveals much about power dynamics and consumer culture during the late 19th century. What do you make of that? Editor: Thinking about photography as a physical process makes me realize I don't often consider how much labor and materials are actually in it. Thanks for the new perspective. Curator: Likewise; it’s essential we analyze historical images with awareness to that industrial complexity.