This photograph of the Solfatara volcano near Pozzuoli was taken by Giorgio Sommer, probably in the 1860s or 70s. In this period, the development of photography offered new ways of documenting and popularizing scientific findings. The image's sharp detail and tonal range allows viewers to experience the geological wonder. But it's also an aesthetic object. Sommer presents the volcano as a sublime landscape; a place of awe and mystery. Its accessibility as a photograph also democratizes what was once only available to educated Europeans who made the Grand Tour. The scientific gaze of the nineteenth century encouraged people to see landscape as a resource or commodity. Sommer's photographs were sold as souvenirs, but also used in scientific publications. By considering those various contexts, we can start to understand the complex relationship between art, science, and commerce in shaping our understanding of the natural world.
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This photo shows us one of some forty craters forming the Phlegraean Fields, a highly active volcanic region to the west of Naples. The Solfatara, a crater in the township of Pozzuoli, is known for the fumarole phenomenon. Giorgio Sommer captured the jets of steam and fumes after the manner of a nature study. Seemingly guided by an almost scientific interest, he framed the scene in such a way as to bring out the rough surface consistency of the geological formation. The fugacity of the volcanic vapours forms a suspenseful contrast to the enduring substance of the stone.
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