Gezicht op de Marina Grande van Capri c. 1880 - 1920

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Gezicht op de Marina Grande van Capri," believed to have been taken between 1880 and 1920. It's a gelatin silver print capturing a cityscape, likely picturesque given its framing within what seems to be an album page. I’m struck by how serene it feels despite the density of buildings, almost staged. What catches your eye in this image? Curator: The serene feeling, I think, comes from our understanding of how these images of Capri functioned. Late 19th and early 20th-century photographs of the Italian landscape, like this, weren’t simply records, they were deeply enmeshed in the growing tourist industry. How do you think images like this played a role? Editor: I guess they acted like postcards, inviting viewers to imagine themselves in this idealised landscape, promoting tourism and a certain lifestyle associated with Italy at the time? Curator: Exactly! And it wasn't just the visual allure. The 'grand tour' was fading, but the desire to acquire culture, to witness history, to partake in "authentic" experiences persisted. Photos like these capitalized on that desire. They also controlled it by presenting a curated vision. Consider the figure in the foreground, seemingly gazing out. How does that inform the narrative? Editor: They almost represent us, the viewer, dreaming of our own visit. So the romantic framing isn’t just artistic, it’s commercial. Curator: Precisely. Think of the cultural institutions and narratives this image supported. From railway companies enabling travel, to publishing houses creating guidebooks with such photos…they constructed Capri as a destination, and, in turn, framed its identity. We can therefore question the photographic genre. Is it documentary, or promotional, and how does its social use alter what we see? Editor: I see! It's much more than just a pretty picture. Thank you; I definitely see this artwork with different eyes now, knowing its historical context. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on how photographic techniques can not only document reality, but shape perception and public discourse. Very insightful.