From the Col Baretti, Graian Alps 1911

Curator: This is Vittorio Sella's photograph, "From the Col Baretti, Graian Alps," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Stark and monumental. The monochromatic tones emphasize the sheer, uncompromising geology. Curator: Sella documented mountain landscapes, reflecting the rising cultural fascination with nature and exploration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Photography played a crucial role in shaping public perception of these remote regions. Editor: Look at the glacial formations—the textures and the light hint at something timeless. It feels both desolate and powerful. The mountain signifies permanence. Curator: Absolutely. Sella's work also coincided with the development of alpinism as a sport and a symbolic representation of national identity and resilience. Editor: It's a window into a world shaped by forces far greater than us. A humbling reminder of nature's enduring power.