Panorama di Pompei 19th-20th century

Giorgio Sommer captured this albumen silver print, "Panorama di Pompei," offering a glimpse into the ancient Roman city frozen in time. Sommer, working in Italy during a period of intense archaeological exploration, presents Pompeii not just as ruins, but as a landscape laden with historical and cultural weight. His choice to photograph Pompeii taps into the 19th-century fascination with antiquity, yet also reflects the colonial undertones of the era, as European powers "rediscovered" and laid claim to ancient cultures. The image evokes a profound sense of loss and historical contemplation. The eerie silence captured by Sommer speaks volumes about the lives interrupted and the stories buried beneath volcanic ash. It is a meditation on time, memory, and the ephemerality of human existence.