Haven van Genua 1870 - 1895

This anonymous photograph titled ‘Haven van Genua’ captures the port of Genoa. Its date is unknown. However, we might consider this image as a document of the city's maritime importance during the 19th or early 20th century. The composition, with its focus on the harbor bustling with ships, subtly invites us to reflect on the human stories intertwined with maritime trade and exploration. It prompts questions about the lives of sailors, merchants, and travelers who passed through this port, each with their own gendered and raced experiences and identities. This photograph speaks to the grand narratives of commerce and empire, but also invites us to consider the ordinary, personal dimensions of life in a port city. It reminds us that behind every grand historical event, there are countless individual stories waiting to be told.