Mt. Meije, Dauphiny c. 1885

Curator: Vittorio Sella's photographic print, "Mt. Meije, Dauphiny," presents a stark mountain landscape. It is currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The overwhelming feeling for me is one of isolation. The peak juts out, seemingly defiant, against a hazy and indifferent horizon. Curator: Indeed. Mountain imagery has historically been tied to the concept of the sublime, but beyond that, the specific context of alpine exploration in the late 19th century reveals a patriarchal relationship with nature. Editor: I see that echoed in the spire-like form of the Meije itself. It is almost a religious icon, representing an unyielding power. Curator: Absolutely. It’s difficult to ignore the gendered implications of conquering such a peak, the domination implied in such an endeavor. Editor: I wonder about the cultural meanings projected onto mountains; they're powerful symbols that tap into something primal. Curator: I think this work lays bare the complex relationships between landscape, power, and representation. Editor: It definitely leaves me with a sense of both awe and unease.