Exterieur van de Kathedraal van San Lorenzo in Genua c. 1870

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Exterieur van de Kathedraal van San Lorenzo in Genua," created around 1870 by Alfredo Noack. It looks like a print, probably using photographic techniques. The architectural details of the cathedral are really striking, and its impressive size really makes you wonder. What’s your take on this image, what story does it tell from your perspective? Curator: It’s interesting to view this photograph not just as an objective record, but as a product of its time. Photography in the 1870s was becoming increasingly accessible, fostering a boom in visual representations of architecture and cityscapes. How might Noack’s photograph have influenced perceptions of Genoa and its cultural landmarks? Was it catering to a growing tourist market or was it part of a broader project of national or civic identity construction? Editor: That's a great point. It makes me wonder, who was the intended audience? I see text along the left and right of the images stating “Berlin. E. Linde & co. London” – does that provide a clue? Curator: Precisely. The photograph was produced and distributed through a network of commercial photography firms based in Berlin and London. This points toward an international audience, likely upper-middle class tourists or those with cultural aspirations seeking to experience Genoa from afar. Considering that San Lorenzo Cathedral embodies centuries of Genoese history, might this image also participate in solidifying the cultural dominance of Europe? Editor: So it’s not just a photo of a pretty building, it’s tied to tourism, social class, and cultural power dynamics! I will definitely look differently next time at such postcards or older photos. Curator: Absolutely, this approach allows to read beneath the surface of what appear to be innocent, “objective” documentations.