Besteigung der Jungfrau VI, Blick vom obern Mönchsjoch auf die Jungfrau c. 1910

Editor: This is A. G. Wehrli's photograph, "Besteigung der Jungfrau VI, Blick vom obern Mönchsjoch auf die Jungfrau." It's a monochrome image of a mountain, and I'm immediately drawn to the stark contrast between the snow and rock. What stands out to you? Curator: For me, it's about the process. Think about the labour involved in creating this image. What materials did Wehrli use? How did the act of climbing and photographing influence the final product? The photograph becomes a record of a specific type of physical engagement with the landscape. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. So the photograph isn't just about the mountain itself? Curator: Exactly! It’s also about how that mountain was consumed and then re-presented through photographic means. The materials and labor of photography become part of the story. Editor: Fascinating! Now I'm thinking about the environmental impact of early photography in such a remote location. Curator: Precisely. Materiality extends beyond the artwork itself to encompass the broader context of its creation and reception.