Bocca di Brenta et Torre di Brenta c. 1880

Editor: This striking photograph, "Bocca di Brenta et Torre di Brenta" by Vittorio Sella, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection, presents a rugged mountain landscape. The textures and tones are incredible! What can you tell me about the materials and process behind this image? Curator: This photograph engages with the materiality of the albumen print. Sella’s choice highlights the stark contrast between the mountains and the silver salts used to create the image. How do the socio-economic conditions of mountaineering and photography intertwine here? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered how the physical process relates to the subject matter. Thank you for sharing that. Curator: Thinking about the labor involved and the resources required offers a richer understanding of the image.