Restanten van de Tempel van Venus in Pompeï met op de achtergrond de Vesuvius c. 1860 - 1900

This photograph of the Temple of Venus in Pompeii with Vesuvius in the background was taken by Roberto Rive sometime in the mid-19th century, using a process of chemical development onto a paper substrate. The image offers a glimpse into the materiality of history itself. Look closely, and you can see the rough-hewn quality of the ruined columns, each one a testament to the labor of ancient stonemasons. The image-making process itself speaks to the rise of industrial chemistry during this period. Photography democratized image-making, and by the mid-19th century, the medium was already being used to document archeological sites for wider audiences. Consider the contrasts at play here: the ancient ruins of Pompeii, a testament to the slow work of time, captured by the then-new technology of photography, which collapsed time and space. Ultimately, this artwork blurs the boundaries between documentation, preservation, and artistry.