Aiguille du Midi, Mt. Blanc Range c. 1883

Curator: The stark contrast immediately grabs me – the dark, imposing rock against the bright snow and sky. Editor: This is Vittorio Sella's "Aiguille du Midi, Mt. Blanc Range," an albumen silver print held at the Harvard Art Museums. Sella was a pioneering mountain photographer. Curator: Indeed. His work emerged during a time of intense Alpine exploration and promoted ideas of the sublime. Editor: The composition itself is remarkable. The sheer scale of the mountain is emphasized by the tight framing and dramatic lighting. The textures, from granular rock to the smooth snow, create a powerful visual experience. Curator: And consider how photography, at this time, was essential for legitimizing claims of territorial sovereignty in the Alps. Images like this one fueled public perception of nature and national identity. Editor: It’s a testament to Sella’s skill that he captures both the objective grandeur and the subjective experience of confronting such a landscape. Curator: Absolutely. A powerful intersection of artistry, exploration, and political context.