Gezicht op de Dom van Como 1897 - 1924

This photograph shows the Duomo of Como and was taken by the brothers Wehrli. In a time when travel was limited to the wealthy, photographs like this one captured distant lands and cultures, offering a glimpse into a world beyond immediate experience. The black and white tones render the architecture in a way that is both romantic and detached. There is an emotional distance here; we see the place, but we do not feel its pulse. This distance is complicated by the presence of the clock tower, that intrudes into the shot. Time is both a personal and a shared experience. The clock here stands as a reminder of the societal structures that both bind and separate us. Consider how this image, though seemingly straightforward, prompts us to think about who gets to travel, who gets to document, and whose stories are told. It’s in these silences and absences that we can begin to excavate the complex layers of history, identity, and power embedded within the image.