Untitled ("A section of an iceberg which was nearly three quarters of a mile long and grounded in nearly 700 ft of water") 1869

Editor: This fascinating vintage photograph, titled "A section of an iceberg...", is by John L. Dunmore. The tones are so delicate, almost like a watercolor. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I see an early photographic process capturing a monumental force of nature. The material reality of this iceberg—its immense scale, its potential energy—is made tangible through the chemical processes of the print. How does the image itself become a commodity, a stand-in for a direct experience of nature? Editor: That’s a great question! The image flattens that direct experience but also makes it accessible. I hadn't thought about the commodification aspect. Curator: Exactly! We must consider how the production and circulation of such images shape our understanding and relationship with the environment.