Gezicht op Amalfi, Italië 1870 - 1890

This photograph of Amalfi, Italy, was taken by Giorgio Sommer sometime in the late 19th century. It's an albumen print, a process that involved coating paper with egg white to create a smooth surface for the photographic emulsion. The appeal of this technique was that it allowed for incredibly fine detail, as you can see in the architecture hugging the coastline, and the boats bobbing in the water. Yet the process was labor-intensive, demanding careful preparation and handling of the light-sensitive materials. This wasn’t just a snap of the fingers. Consider the social context: Sommer was catering to a growing market for scenic views, feeding into the era's burgeoning tourism industry. The very act of capturing and selling these images was a form of cultural production, shaping perceptions of place and experience. The photograph embodies a specific moment in time, reflecting the intersection of art, commerce, and technological innovation.