Restanten van een winkel met oliekruiken te Pompeï 1863 - 1875

Giorgio Sommer's photograph captures the remnants of an oil shop in Pompeii, a haunting echo frozen in time. The large terracotta oil jars, or dolia, dominate the scene, their rounded forms evoking a sense of ancient abundance and now, of poignant loss. These vessels, symbols of commerce and daily life in Pompeii, resonate with similar forms found across cultures. Consider the large storage jars in Minoan palaces, or the amphorae used throughout the Roman Empire. The persistence of this shape speaks to a primal human need: storage, sustenance, and the preservation of life's essentials. The dolia are vessels of both physical and psychological comfort, promising nourishment. Yet here, these once-vital containers stand empty and exposed, a stark reminder of the fragility of civilization. Sommer’s photograph captures not just a physical space but a moment suspended between life and death, echoing in our collective memory. The vessels call to mind ideas of cycles of civilizations: containers of memory and culture, always changing.