Schweiz, Kanton Wallis, Rhonegletscher (Switzerland, Canton of Valais, Rhône Glacier)

c. 1859-1862

Bisson Frères

Associated Names
Bisson Frères

Artist, French, active 1841 - 1864

The image shows a mountainous landscape with a glacier. The glacier spans the scene, separating the rugged peaks in the background from the rocky slopes in the foreground. The snow-capped peaks create a silhouette against the sky. The black and white photograph accentuates the textures and contrasts between the snow and rocks. The image conveys the grandeur and isolation of the alpine environment, emphasizing the scale and majesty of the landscape.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    albumen silver print

  • Credit Line

    Pepita Milmore Memorial Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 29.2 × 44.3 cm (11 1/2 × 17 7/16 in.)
    mount: 45.2 × 58.6 cm (17 13/16 × 23 1/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2016.26.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(sale, Christie’s London, 2001, PHT9087 lot-169); (Robert Koch Gallery, San Francisco); NGA purchase, 2016.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2019

  • The Eye of the Sun: Nineteenth-Century Photographs from the National Gallery of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2019, unnumbered catalogue.

Inscriptions

by unknown hand, lower left in graphite: Schweiz, Kanton Wallis. Rhonegletscher.; by artist, lower right in red ink: Bisson freres

Wikidata ID

Q64145433

You may be interested in

Loading Results