Man en vrouw dansen de tarantella gadegeslagen door Italiaanse volkstypen c. 1860 - 1890

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph, *Man en vrouw dansen de tarantella gadegeslagen door Italiaanse volkstypen*, in the 19th century, using the wet collodion process on glass. The magic here really lies in the chemistry. Sommer would have coated a glass plate with a sticky, light-sensitive emulsion. This demanded real dexterity, which became the basis for his business. It also meant the exposure had to happen while the plate was still wet – explaining the need for a portable darkroom. This method produced a stunningly detailed negative, allowing Sommer to capture ethnographic details in his compositions of Italian folk life. The print reveals the texture of the costumes, the expressions of the onlookers, and even the distant image of Mount Vesuvius. What is striking is that Sommer’s photograph is not just a record, but a carefully constructed scene, intended for commercial sale. Considering the labor and skill involved, it is a reminder that all photographs are made. They are not merely records but carefully constructed objects of cultural exchange.