From the Mettelhorn, Shallihorn, Weisshorn (looking W. of N.) c. 1910

Curator: Gazing upon this landscape, I'm immediately struck by the sheer monumental scale and stark contrasts of light and shadow. Editor: Yes, this is a photograph by George Perry Ashley Abraham entitled "From the Mettelhorn, Shallihorn, Weisshorn (looking W. of N.)" currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The materiality and process of creating landscape photography at this time involved heavy equipment and meticulous darkroom techniques. Curator: Indeed, it makes me think about the labor involved in both capturing and presenting such a scene to the public. How did the act of mountaineering and photography intertwine? Editor: The image reflects a specific cultural moment where the Alps were being constructed as both a site of leisure and of national identity. Curator: It certainly raises questions about how landscapes are consumed and the role of art in shaping those perceptions. Editor: A fascinating convergence of human endeavor and natural grandeur. Curator: Precisely, and this image offers a glimpse into that complex relationship.