Versteende lava bij de Vesuvius 1860 - 1889

Roberto Rive captured this albumen print of "Versteende lava bij de Vesuvius" sometime in the mid-19th century. Rive's photograph comes out of a long tradition of landscape art, but here, we find ourselves confronted with a geological, rather than pastoral, scene. In the 19th century, the volcano Vesuvius, near Naples, was a popular destination for upper-class European travelers. This image would have offered a safe way for tourists to recall the sublime experience of facing the volcano's destructive force without risking their lives. The hardened lava in the foreground dominates the composition, its dark, undulating forms contrasting with the smooth, pale cone of Vesuvius in the background. This image, devoid of human presence, prompts a reflection on the passage of time and the relentless power of nature, inviting contemplation on themes of destruction and renewal.