Interieur van een kroeg op Sicilië 1880 - 1890

Eugenio Interguglielmi made this photograph of a tavern interior in Sicily, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century. Through careful composition, he captured an intimate scene of everyday life in southern Italy. This image creates meaning through its documentary style, offering a glimpse into the social and economic conditions of the time. The humble setting, with its sparse furnishings and working-class patrons, suggests a society marked by poverty and hardship. We see figures seemingly idle in the tavern, alluding to the economic realities in this time and place. Italy had only recently unified in 1871 and the southern region was plagued by corruption and political instability, as well as poverty and disease. The local economy was struggling. To fully understand this photograph, we need to consider it within its historical context and the visual culture of the time. Historical archives and sociological studies can shed light on the social structures and economic realities depicted in the image. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.