Strada di Stabbia 19th-20th century

Editor: This albumen print, titled "Strada di Stabbia" by Giorgio Sommer, offers a peek into 19th-20th century Italy. The stones and archways look so tactile! What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Immediately, I consider the laborious act of constructing this ancient road and the ruins we observe. What material choices informed their work, and what tools did they have? More broadly, it asks: How does human labor literally shape our environment and culture? What do we learn from the endurance and decay of those physical endeavors, represented here through the artistry of an albumen print? Editor: That’s interesting. So, you’re thinking less about the artistic intention, and more about the process and the labor involved? Curator: Exactly. Look at the textures: the worn cobblestones, the rough brickwork. These are records of the everyday lives lived there, evidence of immense work rendered almost abstract by time. The albumen print is itself a layered chemical process, almost alchemical. We’re viewing the decay through layers of intentional manufacture – both the ancient road itself, and the photographic rendering. How are those layers meaningful? Editor: I see your point about the layers. It is fascinating to think about how many steps, and how many hands, it took to create both the road and this photograph. It makes you appreciate the materials and the labor in a new way. Curator: Indeed! And reflecting on that connection transforms our experience with art. Editor: I'll definitely think about material process in all art pieces from now on. Thank you.