Gezicht op de krater van de Vesuvius na de erruptie van 1872, Italië 1873

This photograph of the Vesuvius crater after the 1872 eruption was taken by Giorgio Sommer, an Italian-German photographer. Sommer was part of a wave of Northern European artists drawn to the intense light and classical history of Italy in the 19th century. The image presents Vesuvius as both a symbol of sublime natural power and a site of ongoing trauma. The eruption, a major news event, impacted local communities who lived and worked in the volcano’s shadow. Sommer's choice to photograph the aftermath invites reflection on themes of destruction and resilience. Consider the role of photography at this time. It documented events but was also a tool for constructing narratives around landscape and national identity. As you look, think about how Sommer’s image captures a moment of environmental change, and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.