Tabaksplantage op Sicilië met op de achtergrond de Monte Pellegrino 1880 - 1890

Curator: This photograph, dating from sometime between 1880 and 1890, shows a tobacco plantation in Sicily with Monte Pellegrino in the background. It’s credited to Eugenio Interguglielmi. Editor: It feels timeless. A bit faded and quiet, but that mountain dominates the scene—a stoic presence watching over the activity in the fields. Curator: Right. The photographic print really captures a slice of Sicilian life during a period of intense agricultural production and social change. The late 19th century saw shifts in land ownership and the rise of cash crops like tobacco. Editor: I see the workers spread out in the fields, so small against the landscape. They appear to be almost absorbed by the rows of crops, like tiny figures participating in some ancient ritual. Curator: And the choice to feature Monte Pellegrino is deliberate. The mountain isn't just scenery, it's a powerful symbol for Palermo, a natural fortress, and also, a spiritual place with the sanctuary of Santa Rosalia nestled into it. It’s been a part of the region’s identity for millennia. Editor: Santa Rosalia, patron saint of Palermo… I imagine that even back then, that mountain held significance far beyond its geological structure. Perhaps it evoked a sense of protection for the laborers toiling below. Did tobacco carry any specific symbolism at the time? Curator: Tobacco certainly did, and continues to today. Beyond the clear economic importance as a global commodity, the act of consuming tobacco itself often has cultural connotations related to class and even to colonial power. Editor: So, we're seeing more than just a picture of a field, but a layered view of Sicilian society, where nature, labor, and faith converge under this watchfuil, imposing mountain. Curator: Precisely! Interguglielmi's photograph gives us a glimpse into the interwoven historical and visual symbolism within this space. Editor: A moment captured, a world evoked. I appreciate the quiet storytelling in this image; it almost vibrates with history.