Interieur van de Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, of Mortorana, in Palemo 1860 - 1900

Editor: This gelatin-silver print from somewhere between 1860 and 1900, taken by Giuseppe Incorpora, captures the interior of the Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, also known as La Martorana, in Palermo. The columns really strike me – they dominate the space, and it makes the whole church feel both grand and a little bit…stark, maybe? What's your read on this photograph? Curator: I see it as a document deeply embedded in the complex political and cultural landscape of 19th-century Sicily. Consider this: Incorpora, as a photographer, is not just recording the church, but also participating in constructing a visual narrative of Sicilian identity during a period of intense social and political upheaval. The Byzantine elements you see, combined with the church's history, speak to layers of cultural influence, Arab, Norman, and Italian, which were often points of contention and negotiation in defining Sicilian-ness. How does Incorpora's choice to emphasize these architectural elements play into that dynamic? Editor: So you're suggesting it's less about the aesthetic beauty of the church and more about... using the image to make a statement about Sicilian identity at that time? Curator: Exactly. Photography, even then, wasn't a neutral act. Incorpora's lens frames the church in a way that arguably asserts a particular heritage. Are there elements that might challenge a simple or unified sense of identity? Notice the rather overt, intrusive presence of renovation elements – a ladder propped on what seems like a coffin. What are the politics embedded in portraying an eternalised space juxtaposed with an undertone of decay? How might that disrupt or question the more official narratives of Sicilian history and identity? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t considered how those elements create a sense of disruption, complicating the grandeur. Curator: It's about recognizing the photographer’s intervention. Whose story gets told, and how is it being told? Analyzing these layers is key. Editor: That really reframes how I see the photograph. Thanks for helping me unpack it. Curator: My pleasure. Always question the narrative.