Bergbeklimmers op Le Mauvais Pas bij Chamonix before 1880

Auguste Garcin created this photograph of mountaineers on Le Mauvais Pas near Chamonix, using a photographic process that was still relatively new at the time. The image captures a moment of daring leisure, reflecting the growing popularity of mountain tourism in the 19th century. As industrialization progressed, the Alps became a playground for the European middle and upper classes. But this wasn't just about recreation. Conquering nature was seen as a reflection of industrial progress and even national identity. The details of clothing and equipment suggest a carefully managed experience, where the risks of the wild are mediated by guides and specialized gear. To fully understand this image, we can look into tourist guides, railway schedules, and the advertising of mountain resorts. These kinds of sources can illuminate how the experience of nature was being packaged and consumed in the 19th century. We come to see that the meaning of art is shaped by the social and institutional context in which it is made and viewed.