Artwork
No. 1198 Glacier d'Oberaar
No. 1198 Glacier d'Oberaar is a photography by the Impressionist artist Adolphe Braun. It dates from 1865 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created around 1865, No.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1865, No. 1198 Glacier d’Oberaar is a photographic work by Adolphe Braun in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image presents a high‑altitude winter landscape, captured in two adjoining panels designed for stereoscopic viewing, which allows the scene to be perceived in three dimensions when examined with an appropriate viewer.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph depicts a stark, snow‑covered mountain environment with rugged peaks receding into the distance. In the foreground, six figures stand beside two dark tents on uneven ice, their small scale emphasizing the overwhelming scale and isolation of the glacial terrain.
Technique & Style
Braun employed the stereoscopic process, producing a pair of near‑identical images that, when aligned, generate a depth effect. The composition relies on contrast between the bright snow, dark rock outcrops, and the muted tones of the tents and figures, highlighting the photographic interest in topographical detail and atmospheric conditions of the mid‑19th century.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the mid‑1860s, a period when Braun was active in producing landscape photographs for scientific and artistic audiences. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, joining a broader collection of 19th‑century photographic prints that document Alpine environments.
Artist & collection
