Herculaneum, Pompeii 1880

Roberto Rive created this albumen print of Pompeii sometime in the mid-19th century. Here we see a view of the ruins, forever frozen in time following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The image’s meaning is created through a combination of visual codes and historical associations. In the 19th century, the rediscovery and excavation of Pompeii captured the imagination of Europe, fueling a fascination with classical antiquity. This photograph not only documented the archaeological site but also catered to the burgeoning tourist industry, feeding the desires of those eager to witness history firsthand. Italy, newly unified, looked to its ancient past for a sense of national identity, and Pompeii became a powerful symbol. We can look to guidebooks, travelogues, and archaeological reports of the time to better understand the significance of this image within its specific social and institutional context. Art is contingent on such context; the historian's role is to uncover these layers of meaning.