1125 Napoli Piedigrotta c. 1893 - 1903

Giorgio Sommer captured this image of Napoli Piedigrotta with photography, an instrument that freezes time. Here, we find ourselves at the entrance to a grotto, a space teeming with symbolic weight. Grottos have long been associated with mystery, serving as both refuge and portal. Think of Plato's cave, a place of shadows and illusions, or the mythical caves where gods were born. Here, the opening is a dark mouth, a gateway to an unknown. This harks back to ancient mystery religions, where initiates would descend into caves for transformative rites. This image evokes a primal, psychological space. The shadows hint at our subconscious, a reservoir of ancient fears and desires. The grotto, therefore, is not just a geographical feature, but a landscape of the mind. It’s a stage where our deepest emotions play out, echoing through the ages. The cyclical nature of these symbols reminds us that history is not linear, but a constant return to the wellsprings of human experience.