Acht plekken in de omgeving van de Col de la Schlucht before 1898

Editor: Here we have “Acht plekken in de omgeving van de Col de la Schlucht,” or "Eight Places in the Col de la Schlucht Area," created before 1898 by A. Thiriat, presented as a print incorporating photography. It strikes me as a kind of early tourist brochure. What’s your perspective on it? Curator: From a materialist viewpoint, this print offers a glimpse into the commodification of leisure and landscape. Look at how photography, as a relatively new medium, is employed. The assembly-line, the reproducibility. It's not about artistic expression here, at least not primarily. Editor: So, it's more about mass production and accessibility? Curator: Exactly. Each individual photo depicts scenic viewpoints. But, crucially, consider the print as an object, an artifact born from the processes of photographic printing and bookbinding. It's designed for consumption, for those who can afford travel. Tourism creates jobs, transforms environments… It highlights a changing society through labour. What do you notice in the contrast between the printed text and the photographic image? Editor: Well, the text seems almost like captions or advertising, whereas the images provide the… proof, the reality of the places being described. It’s definitely about selling a place and an experience. Curator: Precisely. Now consider how that experience might be different depending on one’s social status. The consumption of art, and the land shown here, became stratified along similar lines. It begs the question of whether photography here democratizes image-making, or extends elitism in capturing scenes others might never witness in person. Editor: I see how this connects to broader themes of industrialization and access. It's not just about the beauty of nature. Curator: No, it reveals a great deal about the industry around beauty. Editor: Thank you, that’s a fantastic perspective. I never thought about tourism as part of visual culture itself!