Gezicht op de Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini te Genua c. 1867

This is a stereoscopic albumen print of the Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini in Genoa, Italy, created by Alfredo Noack in the late 19th century. Noack was one of many European photographers who captured Italy during its unification, constructing a visual narrative of a newly formed nation. Stereoscopic images like this one were popular for their ability to create an immersive, three-dimensional viewing experience. The Villa itself, perched high amidst lush gardens, becomes a symbol of aristocratic wealth and power. However, viewing it now, we also see the colonial underpinnings of such wealth. Consider the labor and resources extracted from colonized lands that would have funded such opulent displays. Images like this not only show the beauty of Italy, but also become documents of inequality and markers of Italy’s own colonial ambitions.