Rand van een gletsjer te Groenland before 1888

This is a photograph of the edge of a glacier in Greenland, made by an anonymous photographer at an unknown date. What might such an image mean? Well, in Europe at this time, the social role of art was changing. The Enlightenment had led to the establishment of public museums and galleries, and photography was becoming a popular new way to see the world, which was linked to the colonial desire to conquer and catalogue it. This photograph is part of a series documenting an expedition to Greenland, which was a Danish colony at the time. It seems to present a scientific, objective view of a remote landscape. However, we can also see a social purpose. This would be about showing the grandeur and power of nature. It also showed off the skills and bravery of the explorers who ventured into such places. Further research, perhaps in archives of the Royal Danish Geographical Society, might tell us more about the expedition and the social context in which this image was made and consumed.