Interieur van het Colosseum in Rome in avondlicht, Italië 1857 - 1865

Altobelli and Molins made this albumen print of the Colosseum in Rome sometime in the 1860s. In its time, the photograph was more than just a scenic view; it was a cultural artifact, a testament to the enduring allure of antiquity amidst the rise of modernity. The Colosseum, originally a symbol of imperial power and public spectacle, was, by the 19th century, a site of historical imagination. In the context of a recently unified Italy, the image of the Colosseum served as a reminder of Italy’s rich cultural heritage, and its place in European history. The relatively new medium of photography lent a sense of realism and immediacy. The image fosters a dialogue between past and present. To fully appreciate this, we turn to historical archives, travelogues, and the cultural criticism of the period. Only then can we understand how this image participated in shaping perceptions of Italian identity and the complex relationship between history, memory, and national identity.