Gezicht op de top van de Furkapas before 1865

This photograph of the Furkapas in Switzerland was made by Francis Frith, a leading English photographer, probably sometime in the 1860s, and it is presented in the form of an open book. Frith's photographs catered to the Victorian fascination with travel and exploration. The image captures the sublime grandeur of the Swiss Alps, a popular destination for wealthy tourists seeking adventure and natural beauty. The deliberate framing of the photograph within a book format is interesting. Consider how this format might have shaped the experience of viewing it. The book alludes to the increasing accessibility of knowledge through printed materials and points to photography's role in documenting and disseminating information about the world. To fully understand Frith's work, one can consult travel guides, periodicals, and other printed sources from the period to reveal insights into the cultural values attached to landscapes like the Furkapas. The meaning of Frith's photograph is thus tied to the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and consumed.