Ruïne van het Teatro Tragico te Pompeï, Italië 1857 - 1914

This photograph of the ruined Teatro Tragico in Pompeii, Italy, was captured by Giorgio Sommer. It speaks volumes about the social and cultural fascination with the past during the 19th century. Sommer's image presents a classical site, frozen in time, reduced to rubble by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The choice to document this ruin reflects a broader European interest in antiquity, fueled by archaeological discoveries and a romantic vision of lost civilizations. Photography itself, a relatively new medium at the time, played a crucial role in disseminating these images, making ancient sites accessible to a wider audience. Sommer, like many photographers, catered to the growing tourist industry, providing visual souvenirs of this rediscovered past. Understanding the cultural context of this image requires exploring the history of archaeological excavations in Pompeii and the rise of heritage tourism. Historical archives and photographic collections can provide further insight into the social and cultural significance of such images.