Haven van Capri c. 1860 - 1900

Roberto Rive created this albumen print of the 'Haven van Capri' in the mid-19th century, a time when photography was both a scientific tool and an artistic medium. This photograph captures the visual language of 19th-century European Orientalism, framing the Italian landscape as both picturesque and timeless. The figures, though small, invite us to consider their roles. Are they residents, or are they merely staged elements for the tourist gaze? The composition emphasizes the structures and the natural environment, perhaps mirroring the colonial gaze that often overlooked the individual experiences of the local population. Rive's artistic choices prompt us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are left out.