Gezicht op de watervallen van Schaffhausen 1900

Delizy captured this view of the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen in a small albumen print. During the 19th century, the advent of photography offered new ways of seeing and representing the world, which influenced both artistic and social perceptions of landscape. What does it mean to frame nature? The sublime power of the falls is mediated through the photographer’s lens, and the development of tourism saw such views turned into commodities. This perhaps obscures the complex and contested relationship between nature, industry, and human intervention. The industrial buildings in the image are a reminder of how the natural world was being harnessed for economic gain. The act of photographing and viewing the falls becomes a cultural experience, influenced by prevailing attitudes towards nature, progress, and the picturesque. This little image is a poignant reminder of our ongoing negotiation with the environment.