Berglandschap before 1903

Curator: Looking at this powerful photograph by L.L. Kleintjes, titled "Berglandschap," which translates to "Mountain Landscape," created before 1903, my immediate reaction is how monumental and foreboding it seems. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The grayscale immediately establishes this old book’s physicality; a gelatin-silver print, you say? I’m curious about the labor behind it: harvesting materials, creating the emulsion. I can almost feel the texture of the paper. Curator: Exactly. To appreciate "Berglandschap," one has to consider the romantic era fascination with nature’s sublime power. But let’s not forget this era was also ripe with scientific expeditions, often linked to colonial pursuits. Doesn't this resonate, considering the scale of mountain views, usually appreciated by the colonial elite? Editor: Absolutely. The romantic pursuit of natural wonders was often fueled by the extraction of raw materials. I wonder about Kleintjes' intentions. Were they interested in documenting nature’s resources for exploitation? Or simply showing beauty as a sign of dominance of such landscapes by those who commissioned the piece? Curator: That’s a pertinent question! Also, let’s think about the gendered dimension: mountain climbing, photography, then—activities often exclusive to men from a certain social echelon, solidifying particular forms of masculine identity through their access to these natural settings. Editor: The very process – the chemical interactions to fix the image on this specific material – points towards that cultural consumption. And it would be fascinating to look into the specific batch of gelatin-silver used; were the elements ethically sourced? Were there exploitative labour practices involved? Curator: Thinking through these networks highlights the intricate relationship between artistic expression and socio-political reality. Seeing it this way opens so many conversations about art history. Editor: Yes! This brings the materiality of our surroundings into stark relief. "Berglandschap" transcends mere aesthetic appeal; it's an invitation to delve into how resources, labor, and intentions intertwined to form an object of visual delight – one that simultaneously reflects and influences perspectives on nature.