Klokkentoren van de Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio te Palermo 1857 - 1914

Giorgio Sommer created this albumen print of the Klokkentoren van de Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio in Palermo. Sommer, a German photographer working in Italy, captured this image during a period of significant transformation in Sicilian history. After centuries of foreign rule, Sicily was on the cusp of unification with Italy, a moment of both hope and uncertainty for its people. The photograph serves not only as a historical record of a place but also as a cultural artifact that reflects the complex interplay of power, identity, and representation during this time. Sommer's position as an outsider, photographing a culture with a long, layered history, brings up important questions about the gaze, and who has the power to represent whom. Consider the absence of people in the image. The tower stands as a silent witness, inviting us to reflect on the stories, struggles, and triumphs of those who lived in its shadow. The photograph prompts us to consider the narratives that are often left out of history.