Gezicht op de Montaña de Guajara op Tenerife 1856

Charles Piazzi Smyth captured this photograph of the Montaña de Guajara on Tenerife. As Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Smyth traveled to Tenerife in 1856 for astronomical observation, during which time he pioneered the use of photography for scientific documentation. Smyth, like many scientists of his era, was influenced by theories of scientific racism, and he believed that the altitude of Tenerife would allow him to make purer scientific observations. His quest was bound up with then-current pseudoscientific notions of racial and class hierarchies. This image, therefore, exists at the intersection of scientific advancement and problematic social beliefs. The seemingly objective photograph is imbued with the subjective biases of its creator. As you consider this image, reflect on how our pursuit of knowledge is always intertwined with our social and cultural contexts.