Naples_ Street Scene with a Sulphurous Water Vendor c. 1880 - 1890

Giorgio Sommer captured this street scene with a sulphurous water vendor in Naples at a time when photography was increasingly used to document everyday life, reflecting a growing interest in realism and social observation. The photograph offers a glimpse into the socio-economic conditions of 19th-century Naples, revealing a vibrant, working-class community. Sommer's lens frames the scene, not as a detached observer, but with an eye for the human element—the interactions, the labor, and the communal atmosphere. This image invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in representation. Sommer, a German photographer, captures the Italian working class, prompting questions about whose stories are told and how. Does the photograph reinforce stereotypes, or does it offer a nuanced portrayal of Neapolitan life? "Naples, Street Scene..." becomes more than a historical record; it becomes a space for contemplating identity, representation, and the complex layers of human experience.