Restanten van de Tempel van Venus in Pompeï c. 1860 - 1900

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph of the Temple of Venus in Pompeii sometime in the late 19th century. Though seemingly a straightforward document, the photograph is itself a constructed object, made through careful development of a light-sensitive emulsion. The sepia tone, achieved through chemical processes, lends the image a timeless quality, even as it captures a specific moment in the site's excavation. Consider the labor involved here: not only the photographer's technical skill, but also the countless hours of manual work required to unearth the temple from volcanic ash. Sommer was working at a time when photography was becoming increasingly accessible, a form of mass production. Images like these fueled a growing interest in archaeology and the classical world, contributing to a burgeoning tourism industry. The image presents a direct encounter with history, yet also offers an insight into the complex interplay of materials, labor, and cultural fascination that shapes our understanding of the past.