Gezicht op de haven van Genua, Italië 1858 - 1893

Editor: So, here we have Alfredo Noack's "View of the Port of Genoa, Italy," a gelatin-silver print, dating from somewhere between 1858 and 1893. It strikes me as very detailed, almost documentary, yet it also feels somewhat romantic, maybe because of the muted tones. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Funny, it speaks to me of transition. The pictorialist style softens what could be a purely realistic portrayal of a bustling harbor. You feel the grit and the grime, the nascent industry, but there's this lovely ethereal quality to it, too. It's like stepping into a half-remembered dream. Do you pick up on that yourself, or am I just waxing nostalgic about nonexistent sea voyages? Editor: No, I totally see that. It's not as stark as some realist works; there’s a dreamy softness around the edges. I guess it really straddles that line between different movements. The composition is interesting too; this elevated point of view almost detaches you from the activity below. Curator: Exactly! It's the liminal space between observation and participation. Imagine being there, smelling the salt, hearing the sailors shout. Then Noack freezes it, prettifies it just so. Perhaps this is because photography was, at the time, emerging, and attempting to emulate more classic mediums, or stand as a demonstration of progress! I think this shot tries to demonstrate that. Is it a successful image do you think? Editor: It certainly holds my interest. Thinking about it, what particularly gets you about the 'in-betweenness' you spoke about? Curator: The emotional honesty of that in-between place. I also think Noack perfectly encapsulated Genoa during a significant era, right on the cusp of enormous societal change, when industry starts altering reality as a whole. I always imagine I'm almost 'peering' into an untouched frame of time with the picture. A moment unencumbered. Editor: That's beautifully put! It really brings the image alive. Curator: Thank you for having this moment, it has helped too see a broader depth in the harbor image! Editor: Thanks! I will remember this discussion.