In this photograph, we are facing the illustrious Breithorn. This famous mountain range in the Valais Alps is made up of five summits peaks, all over 4,000 metres above sea level. Dominating the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt, it stands not far from the imposing Matterhorn.

Of all the high alpine summits , Breithorn is the easiest to climb. The climb to the Klein Matterhorn takes us to an altitude of 3820 metres. From there, it's just 300 metres to the top of Breithorn. The effort is nevertheless considerable, because at high altitude, the lack of oxygen is quickly felt, and every step takes all our energy.

This majestic mountain was the first summit over 4000 metres that I tackled when I started mountaineering. So I'm particularly attached to it, which gives a very special flavour to the work. Since then, I've been lucky enough to make the traverse of the five summits, an experience I have extraordinary memories of.

The north face of Breithorn appears here like an enormous wall of impassable relief, lined with seracs and impressive rocks. This is in stark contrast to the south face on the Italian side, a vast plateau that allows climbers to bypass the sharp summits mountains to reach the Castor and Pollux mountains a little further on.

I took this spectacular shot of Breithorn in summer, after a snowstorm, just as the clouds were beginning to part to make way for the sun's rays. The freshly snow-covered walls appear at their most beautiful, shining and bewitching. Time seems to stand still, giving the mountains a feeling of eternity. The light, both vivid and velvety, brings the image to life, adding texture and depth.

I particularly like this photograph because, in addition to showcasing high mountains in all their splendor, it glorifies matter at its most precious. Light and shadow highlight every detail of its walls and glaciers. The magic works, almost giving the impression that, with a simple glance, you can reach Breithorn. Its structure is as generous and unctuous as its teeth are sharp and stiff. The painting, with its palette of whites and greys and its strong lines, has an abstract quality that I feel gives the work its power.