Gezicht op de Gemmipas after 1879

This stereo card photograph of the Gemmipass was made by Florentin Charnaux in Switzerland in the mid-19th century. In this period, stereo cards like this one were a popular form of entertainment, allowing viewers to experience a three-dimensional image using a special viewer. The Gemmipass itself has a long history, functioning as a trade route since Roman times, and later becoming a popular tourist destination during the Victorian era, when the picturesque and sublime qualities of mountain landscapes began to draw visitors from across Europe. Charnaux's photograph captures the ruggedness of the pass, with its steep, rocky terrain. As an art historian, I'm interested in how images like this one shape our understanding of the natural world. By studying photographs, guidebooks, and other visual materials from the period, we can gain insights into the cultural values and beliefs that influenced the way people perceived and interacted with landscapes like the Gemmipass.