Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn Summit c. 1870

Editor: This is Adolphe Braun's photograph of the Aletsch Glacier, taken from Eggishorn Summit. The scale is just breathtaking. What do you see in this image? Curator: Beyond the vista, I see the 19th-century fascination with the sublime, with nature's power. The glacier itself is a symbol of time, slow, inexorable change shaping the landscape. Does it resonate with any modern-day concerns? Editor: It definitely makes me think about climate change. It's a little scary. Curator: Yes, the glacier, once a symbol of permanence, now represents fragility. The image becomes a memento mori, reminding us of the transient nature of even the grandest forms. Editor: I never thought of it that way! So much meaning packed into one photograph. Curator: Indeed, the image speaks volumes about our relationship with the natural world, then and now.