Marktplein te San Remo 1864 - 1881

Curator: Here we have Giacomo Brogi's "Marktplein te San Remo," a gelatin-silver print dating from 1864 to 1881. The print captures a bustling market scene in what I understand to be San Remo. Editor: It has that hushed, sepia-toned stillness of old photographs, but there's also a palpable energy, isn't there? Like you can almost hear the murmur of the crowd and the clatter of goods. It feels quite immersive, considering its age. Curator: Indeed. Brogi's sharp focus and tonal range reveal much. Note how the composition guides the eye – from the lively foreground, filled with figures and market stalls, to the architectural forms in the background: The buildings, and of course that imposing church tower which anchors the image. The overall effect conveys a deep sense of perspective. Editor: It’s beautiful. A touch melancholy, maybe because of that aged tint… Like peering into a lost world. I imagine the people in it are long gone, which is sobering. But then you think about the simple transactions and human interactions happening – the bartering, the chatting. Those little moments echo across time, don't they? The universality is heartwarming, you know? Curator: Precisely. Also observe the distribution of light and shadow: See how it accentuates textures, highlighting details of both the built environment and the human subjects? Pictorialism and Realism blend to form a balanced, truthful depiction. Editor: Do you think Brogi ever imagined that his capture of an ordinary day would one day speak to so many future people? This photograph immortalizes them, and speaks volumes. Curator: He managed to make what appears quite commonplace…timeless. He made this simple scene unforgettable. Editor: Yes, and in capturing their likeness, perhaps he also captures our own potential for it. Now, that’s a thing of beauty.