Gezicht op Villa Nazionale te Napels, Italië 1857 - 1914

Editor: This albumen print, "Gezicht op Villa Nazionale te Napels, Italië" by Giorgio Sommer, captures a cityscape bathed in soft light. It feels quite staged and very still to me. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This photograph, taken between 1857 and 1914, offers us a glimpse into the constructed image of Naples for the burgeoning tourist industry. It’s not merely a record of the Villa Nazionale. Consider it a performance staged for the colonial gaze, perhaps. Who was invited into this space? Who was excluded? Editor: That’s a great question. So, you’re saying the photograph isn’t just a snapshot of a place, but a carefully crafted representation of power? Curator: Precisely. Think about the perspective chosen, elevated and distant, which reinforces a certain power dynamic. Also, the inclusion of certain elements like meticulously manicured gardens versus other views of the city. It is designed to present an image of order and beauty, concealing the social realities of the city. What do you notice about the presence, or absence, of people in the photograph? Editor: There are so few! It’s as if the park exists in a bubble. Almost erasing the real lives of the people living in Naples at that time. I hadn’t really thought about photography as a political statement. Curator: Photography is always a choice. Images like this reflect and perpetuate certain ideologies, often those of the dominant class. Recognizing these biases is key to understanding not just art history, but history itself. Editor: That really changes how I see photographs now. Thank you. Curator: And thank you for the chance to view this from another perspective.