Gezicht op de ruïne van het Casa di Pansa te Pompeï, Italië 1870 - 1890

Giorgio Sommer captured this albumen print, titled *View of the Ruin of the Casa di Pansa in Pompei, Italy*, sometime in the late 19th century. The image immortalizes the haunting beauty of Pompeii, a city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.. Sommer, a German photographer working in Italy, catered to the burgeoning interest in archaeology and the Grand Tour. But what does it mean to frame the ruins of a civilization for a tourist's gaze? This photograph invites us to contemplate not just the remnants of a city, but the narratives we construct around its absence. The Casa di Pansa, once a vibrant home, now stands as a silent witness to history. The stark contrast of light and shadow emphasizes the emotional weight of the scene. This photograph is more than just a recording of a place; it's an exploration of memory, loss, and the enduring power of the past.