View of Capri with Hotel Tiberia in the middle 1860

This albumen print called 'View of Capri with Hotel Tiberia in the middle’ was captured by Roberto Rive sometime in the mid-19th century. The image portrays Capri, a location that became synonymous with the Grand Tour. Here we see not just a place, but a carefully constructed destination. Tourism at this time reflected a gendered and classed experience, with wealthy Europeans seeking cultural refinement. Rive catered to this demographic by packaging picturesque views. This photograph flattens the complexities of Capri into a consumable image. The inclusion of local figures almost as props invites us to consider whose stories are left untold. What does it mean to turn a lived-in place into a backdrop for the privileged? While seemingly benign, 'View of Capri’ offers insight into the power dynamics inherent in the act of seeing and representing a culture. It leaves me wondering about the untold stories, the lived experiences that exist beyond this frame.