Gezicht op het Comomeer before 1898

This is an anonymous photographic print of a view of Lake Como, pasted into an album. As photography became more accessible in the 19th century, it transformed not just artistic practices, but also social ones. Wealthy tourists could now capture their travels, and share views like this one with those back home. But consider what is *not* shown here: the lives of ordinary Italians who lived and worked in this region. Instead, we see a romanticized landscape, carefully framed for aesthetic pleasure. This reflects the power dynamics of the time, where certain perspectives were valued over others. To understand this image fully, we might consult travel guides, personal diaries, and social histories of 19th-century tourism, to give a more comprehensive picture of the power dynamics of the time. Art, after all, is always seen through a particular lens.