Gezicht op Borgo Santa Lucia in Napels c. 1860 - 1880

This is Giorgio Sommer's photographic view of the Borgo Santa Lucia in Naples. Sommer, a German photographer who settled in Italy, captured this image as part of a broader visual catalog of Italian landscapes and cityscapes, catering to the burgeoning tourist trade. What strikes me most about this image is not just what it shows, but what it implies about the gaze behind the lens. In the 19th century, photography was becoming increasingly accessible, yet the act of capturing and disseminating images remained largely in the hands of Europeans. This photograph, while seemingly objective, participates in a colonial dynamic, framing Naples for a foreign, largely Western audience. Consider how the composition—the elevated vantage point, the careful arrangement of boats and buildings—presents a picturesque, almost romanticized view of the city. It invites viewers to consume Naples as a spectacle, a place of beauty and history, while potentially overlooking the complex social realities of its inhabitants. The photograph invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of representation.