Gezicht op de Matterhorn en Hotel Gornergrat 1897 - 1900

This black and white photograph shows the Matterhorn and Hotel Gornergrat. Though the photographer is unknown, the image presents us with a fascinating glimpse into the development of tourism in Switzerland. The construction of the Hotel Gornergrat in the late nineteenth century signals a shift in how people interacted with nature. No longer a remote, inaccessible peak, the Matterhorn became a backdrop for leisure and recreation, facilitated by new infrastructures. We should consider the social conditions that made such developments possible. Increased wealth, advances in transportation, and a growing middle class all contributed to the rise of tourism. The image invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between humans and the natural world, and on the social and economic forces that shape our perceptions of landscape. The image is a valuable resource for understanding the cultural history of tourism and its impact on the environment.