Kust bij Sorrento, Italië 1857 - 1900

This photograph of the coast near Sorrento, Italy, was taken by Giorgio Sommer sometime in the mid-19th century. It captures a moment of profound transition, as the traditional landscapes of Europe began to give way to modern development. Sommer, who was German, spent much of his career in Italy, catering to the burgeoning tourist industry. In this photograph, we see a dramatic coastline being reshaped by human intervention: buildings cling to the cliffs, and staircases carve paths into the rock. These elements suggest a negotiation—and perhaps a tension—between nature and culture. The two figures perched on the rocks in the foreground, nearly swallowed by the landscape, invite us to consider the changing relationship between individuals and their environment. What does it mean to witness a landscape transformed, and what stories are etched into these stones and structures? This photograph reflects the beginnings of mass tourism and its impact on identity, place, and memory.