Gezicht op Marina Piccola, Capri 1861 - 1878

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Gezicht op Marina Piccola, Capri," taken sometime between 1861 and 1878 by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy. The sepia tones give it a nostalgic feel, almost dreamlike. What stands out to you most when you look at this image? Curator: Well, first off, it’s not just a photo; it’s a portal. Think about it: Lamy captured this little slice of Capri in the mid-19th century using albumen print! We’re looking through a keyhole into the past. I get a yearning for a slower life, when travel was grand and photographs felt precious. Does that make sense? It reminds me a bit of going through my grandmother’s old photo albums – each one tells a story, if you just pause long enough to listen. Do you feel anything like that when you look at this? Editor: Definitely, I can feel that connection with the past. But I'm also intrigued by the composition. The rugged rocks in the foreground contrast sharply with the serene water and the almost fairytale-like buildings nestled into the mountain. It's quite romantic, I would say. Curator: Precisely! You've hit upon it. It's a staged reality, like looking through rose tinted spectacles! Romanticism, indeed. Now, look at the light… See how it kisses the edges of the buildings? This is no sterile documentation. Lamy wasn't just recording, he was evoking. What do you take away from that use of light and dark, of capturing the mood of Capri itself? Editor: I think it's that play of light and shadow that really brings out the idyllic, somewhat magical atmosphere. It isn't just showing us a place, but also telling us how we’re meant to feel about it. Curator: Precisely! It's about feeling the Mediterranean sun, feeling the romance and escaping the ordinary! Photography offered us the possibility of escapism. Thanks for helping me see the picture more clearly. Editor: Thank you! It's amazing how much richer a simple landscape becomes with a little historical context and deeper looking.