Rialtobrug over het Canal Grande in Venetië c. 1860 - 1890

This photograph of the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice was captured by Giorgio Sommer, who began his photography practice in Italy around 1860. Sommer documented the unification of Italy, a period of great social upheaval and national identity formation. Through his lens, we are invited into a Venice steeped in its historical identity, yet subtly altered by the changing tides of modernity. Sommer, originally from Germany, became a keen observer and recorder of Italian life. The photograph itself becomes a cultural artifact, mirroring the aspirations and the complex realities of a nation in transition. Consider the emotional weight of witnessing a society balance preservation with progress; this image encapsulates a moment of reflection, inviting us to consider the interplay between the past and the future.