1262 Pompei Strada della Abbondanza. c. 1888 - 1903

Editor: This gelatin-silver print by Giorgio Sommer, taken sometime between 1888 and 1903, shows a street view in Pompeii – the Strada della Abbondanza. There's such a strong sense of absence, the silence of a once-bustling city frozen in time. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It is powerful isn't it? Sommer’s image, produced over a millennium after the city's demise, prompts us to reflect on whose stories are centered in these visual archives. While this photograph offers an unpeopled view, we must consider the lives of those who inhabited this space, particularly the enslaved populations whose labor underpinned Pompeiian society. What narratives are silenced by this focus on ruins and aesthetic composition? Editor: That's a great point. The photo emphasizes the grandeur of the architecture but almost erases the human element. Does the artistic style, this clear realism, impact how we perceive that erasure? Curator: Absolutely. The directness of realism can give the illusion of objectivity, masking the photographer's choices and framing. It’s a compelling question to ask, especially in a historical context. Who benefited from this depiction of Pompeii, and whose perspectives are lost? What socioeconomic status did one need to afford such travels and documentation of this area? The accessibility, or lack thereof, must be considered in photographic documentations such as these. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. So, beyond the initial impression, it’s about questioning the photographer's perspective and what social dynamics were at play. Curator: Precisely. It becomes a lens through which we can examine the politics of representation and historical narrative. And whose history? It opens up so many lines of critical inquiry. Editor: Thank you! Now I see how a seemingly straightforward image can reveal so much about power and perspective. Curator: Indeed. Every photograph is a conversation, and this one invites us to engage in some very important questions.