Detail van de David van Michelangelo in Florence c. 1865 - 1890

Edizione Brogi’s photograph captures a detail of Michelangelo’s David in Florence. This image invites reflection on the shifting sands of representation and identity. Michelangelo’s David, created in the early 16th century, became a symbol of Florentine civic pride, embodying republican values and the defense of liberty. Brogi’s late 19th century photograph presents a new layer to this narrative, framing David through the lens of emerging photographic technologies and a changing social landscape. Consider how the black and white medium alters our perception of a figure synonymous with Renaissance ideals. Brogi’s photograph invites questions about cultural memory, how heroes are constructed, and the dialogue between classical ideals and modern representation. What does it mean to reproduce and circulate images of idealised masculine forms? The photograph encourages us to consider the interplay between art, identity, and technology, and challenges us to reflect on how we engage with the artistic traditions of the past.