Gezicht op het park Villetta di Negro in Genua c. 1892

This is Alfredo Noack’s photograph of the Villetta di Negro park in Genoa, rendered with a muted palette and a focus on structural elements. The composition is divided into distinct layers: a foreground defined by a wrought iron fence and lamps, a midground dominated by meticulously arranged foliage, and a background featuring an artificial waterfall cascading down a constructed rock face. Noack’s emphasis on the geometric arrangement within the natural landscape invites a deeper reading. The strong lines of the fence create a barrier that frames the picturesque scene, while the symmetrical placement of the lamps and sculpture introduces a sense of order. This constructed order contrasts with the apparent naturalness of the park. The photograph can be seen as a study in contrasts: nature versus artifice, public versus private, and control versus freedom. In its formal structure, the image captures a moment of transition, where the natural world is consciously shaped and framed for aesthetic consumption. The photograph invites us to consider how we perceive and interact with constructed landscapes.