The Sphinx and Pyramids, circa 1870 (C. & G. Zangaki)
Geneva's Ethnography Museum is showing original works by Alfred Bertrand (1856-1924). The wealthy young man - a passionate traveller and fervent defender of Protestant missions, which he dubbed a "civilising force" - amassed an important collection of photographs from his many cruises and explorations. His photos come from a large catalogue, where monuments mingle with landscapes, "human types", botanical and mineralogical curiosities. The exhibition provides food for thought on image use from the end of the 19th century to the current day. (All images: Collection Alfred Bertrand)
The Suez Canal (Kantara Station), circa 1870 (Attributed to Hippolyte Arnoux/St. Phot. Du canal de Suez)
Malay family, Batavia (Java), circa 1875 (Unknown)
Temple in Benares by the Ganges, circa 1870 (Samuel Bourne)
Camp in Patagonia, circa 1875 (Unknown)
Mormons baptising Indians, 1875 (Charles Savage)
Means of transport on the island of Madeira, circa 1875 (Unknown)
A Europeanised Japanese, before 1879 (Baron von Stillfried & Andersen)
"Some of my boys" (southern Africa), circa 1895 (Alfred Bertrand)
Princesses of Kanyé (Bechuana, southern Africa), April 27, 1895 (Alfred Bertrand)
Family scene (Chinese Empire), circa 1870 (William Saunders)
Swiss adventurer's photos go on display in Geneva.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.