Naples_ Street Scene with Transport Coach c. 1880 - 1890

This photograph of a Naples street scene was taken by Giorgio Sommer, probably in the late 19th century. It’s a relatively straightforward image, made using a large format camera and glass plate negative. But consider how Sommer has framed the shot. The horse and cart are positioned prominently in the foreground, almost like a sculptural monument. The texture of the wooden cart, the metal chains, the horse’s dark coat, and the rough stones it carries, all contrast with the smooth, light-colored buildings in the background. Look closer and you will see how the driver is positioned on top of the load, turning what is essentially a laboring picture into something of a tableau vivant. The image invites us to consider the way labor is presented, both romanticized and exposed, reflecting the social and economic realities of Naples at the time. It reminds us that every photograph, however simple, is carefully crafted to convey a particular meaning.