Tafereel in Napels met een vrouw die vlooien verwijderd uit het haar van twee jongens 1870

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph of a scene in Naples depicting a woman removing fleas from the hair of two boys. While Sommer was German, he spent much of his career in Italy, catering to the burgeoning tourist trade. This image offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of the Neapolitan working class. During this era, photography often romanticized or exoticized such scenes, but here, Sommer presents a more intimate and perhaps less sensationalized view. We see the woman's tender care juxtaposed with the visible signs of poverty. The act of grooming, usually private, is laid bare, suggesting a complex intersection of domesticity and public life. Sommer's photograph invites us to consider the complexities of representation and the photographer's role in shaping our understanding of different cultures. It's a poignant snapshot, revealing both the dignity and hardship inherent in the lives of ordinary people.