Gezicht op Isola Bella in het Lago Maggiore, Italië 1862 - 1890

This albumen print of Isola Bella on Lake Maggiore in Italy was made by Fratelli Alinari. Note how photography, as a relatively new medium, becomes intertwined with tourism. The image captures a scene of leisure and tranquility, but also hints at the power structures that make such leisure possible. Isola Bella, with its elaborate gardens and palace, was owned by the influential Borromeo family. The island becomes a stage for displaying wealth and power, reflecting the social hierarchies of the time. The gondolas in the foreground suggest a certain class of travelers who could afford leisurely tours of the lake. Consider what other visual and cultural markers you can identify in the image. Do these gardens conform to a particular aesthetic? Do they reflect a conservative or progressive approach to landscape design? To answer these questions, researchers could consult historical records of the Borromeo family, travel guides from the period, and studies of garden design. The meaning of the art is always contingent on these contexts.