Gezicht op een brug op de Via Mala after 1878

Florentin Charnaux created this stereoscopic photograph of a bridge on the Via Mala. In the mid-19th century, the rise of tourism coincided with advancements in photography, offering new perspectives on travel and landscape. This image speaks to the cultural fascination with nature, particularly the sublime and awe-inspiring qualities of the Swiss Alps. Photography provided a means to capture these experiences and share them widely, influencing perceptions of national identity and place. The image also reflects an era of rapid industrialization and infrastructure development. Bridges like the one depicted were not only engineering marvels but also symbols of progress, connecting remote regions and facilitating commerce. However, it's crucial to recognize that this romanticized view of nature often obscures the labor and exploitation involved in its construction. The building of roads and bridges frequently relied on marginalized communities, whose stories are often absent from historical narratives. The image evokes the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.