Swiss Village of Braunwald Becomes Open-Air Museum Honoring Photographer Emil Brunner

In Braunwald, Switzerland, the work of photographer Emil Brunner is being exhibited throughout the village itself. Brunner, who photographed across the globe from the Arctic to the Sahara, documented the lives of over 1500 mountain children during World War II. Thirty years after his death, more than 60 portraits from 1943 and 1944 are displayed along walking paths, in barns, and in the old schoolhouse, transforming Braunwald into a walkable museum.

The exhibition aims to connect viewers with the subjects of Brunner’s photographs, showing children from humble backgrounds and the hardships of life in the mountains during wartime. Locals have widely supported the project, offering spaces for display and contributing to the exhibition’s setup.

The display evokes memories for those who knew Brunner and highlights the changes in mountain life. Organizers hope the exhibition will draw visitors to Braunwald and showcase both Brunner’s artistry and the lives of the families he captured.