Gezicht op de Glacier du Tour c. 1860 - 1880

This stereoscopic photograph of the Glacier du Tour was created by E. Lamy, likely in the latter half of the 19th century, and it presents us with an intriguing intersection of tourism, technology, and the changing perception of landscape. The image, through the stereoscope viewer, offered a vivid three-dimensional experience, a novelty that contributed to the burgeoning tourist industry in Switzerland. The romantic allure of the Alps was carefully curated and consumed, packaged in easily distributable forms such as this photograph. But how did the popularization of these landscapes affect the local communities? What was once a remote village transformed into a destination, its image commodified for external consumption. Understanding the broader implications of this image requires us to delve into the social and economic history of the region. The archives of tourist companies, local newspapers, and personal accounts can reveal much about the complex exchange between observer and observed.