Gezicht op de Davidson Glacier before 1890

Editor: This is "Gezicht op de Davidson Glacier," a gelatin-silver print from before 1890 by the Winter Photo Co. The stark contrast and textured surface give it a very tangible, almost sculptural quality. What historical context really brings this piece to life for you? Curator: This image exists not in isolation, but as part of a burgeoning market for Alaskan imagery and adventure narratives in the late 19th century. Think of the romantic, yet exploitative, drive to document the ‘untouched’ wilderness, right as industrial interests were beginning to transform it. This photograph, reproduced in a book, is a commodification of landscape. Editor: So, it's more than just a pretty picture. The act of documenting the glacier itself is loaded. Curator: Precisely! Who was this book intended for? Likely, urban consumers, far removed from Alaska. They purchased this experience, this sense of exploration and knowledge, all while potentially supporting industries that were impacting these very landscapes. Was this photography helping to shape public opinion on these territories? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn't considered the consumer aspect so directly. Did these images, in a way, contribute to a sense of ownership or entitlement over these spaces? Curator: That’s a critical question. The visual rhetoric used in landscape photography at that time – framing nature as ‘sublime’ and ‘untouched’ – often served to justify colonial expansion and resource extraction. And the very act of printing this in a book meant this singular photograph gained another form of validation, and entered broader distribution circuits. Editor: I see now. It's a stunning photograph, but it reflects complex power dynamics. I appreciate knowing what to look for in these beautiful Gelatin prints that speaks to the values of the people at that time. Curator: And that understanding lets you unpack some of the assumptions behind even the most seemingly straightforward depictions of the natural world. It's also very humbling to witness nature and landscape change.