Sint-Pietersplein te Vaticaanstad 1861 - 1878

Editor: This collotype print from between 1861 and 1878 by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy, titled "Sint-Pietersplein te Vaticaanstad," depicts a somewhat deserted scene. The architecture is imposing, but there's a stillness that I find almost unsettling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The stillness is palpable, isn't it? Beyond the aesthetic, let's consider the social context. Photography at this time was democratizing image production, allowing wider audiences to engage with iconic sites like St. Peter's Square. But who had access? Whose perspectives were privileged? Look at the figures – are they merely tourists or do they represent something more about power and access? Editor: I see what you mean. The figures seem somewhat anonymous, dwarfed by the architecture. Are you suggesting that this image, while seemingly neutral, subtly reinforces a particular social hierarchy? Curator: Precisely. Think about the tradition of the Grand Tour. Wealthy Europeans, primarily men, would journey across the continent, Rome being a central point. This image becomes a souvenir, a memento of that privileged experience. Consider, too, that Neoclassicism, which heavily influences this vista, evokes ideas of order, reason, and a specific European heritage. What narratives does this cityscape silence through its focus on the grandeur of empire? Editor: It does feel like the people are secondary. Like they’re props within a powerful statement of the church. Now that you point that out, I'm reevaluating the romantic ideas that initially came to mind! Curator: Indeed! And understanding the relationship between power, representation, and access in historical images is a continuous, active practice, one we continue to engage with today. Editor: That's such a powerful point! Thank you for guiding me beyond just what the eye sees. Curator: It was my pleasure. It's through these critical lenses that we can start to dismantle old systems and build a world of greater equity in the art world and beyond!