Toren van de San Gottardo te Milaan 1890 - 1920

Giacomo Brogi made this photograph of the Torre di San Gottardo in Milan sometime in the 19th century. It's a straight-up black and white shot of a tower; the sky is bright, and the architecture is solid. The artist had to find the right angle, looking up with the heavy camera, placing the tower perfectly in the frame. It feels like a conversation with other architectural photographs, you know? Think of Eugène Atget documenting Paris; Brogi is capturing the details of Milan, creating a moment of connection with the viewer. It’s about seeing, documenting, and sharing this urban space. There’s a simple kind of beauty in the way the details of the stonework are exposed. It's a document, sure, but also something more: a testament to seeing the value in the world around you. These images connect us across time, with people trying to make sense of their environment and find meaning.