Gezicht op de Borromeïsche Eilanden in het Lago Maggiore before 1889

This anonymous print of the Borromean Islands in Lago Maggiore is pasted into an album of ephemera. The lack of details surrounding the print invites us to ask broader questions about the culture of travel and tourism in the 19th century. Northern Italy became a popular destination for wealthy Europeans on the Grand Tour. Guidebooks, like the page facing the print, were aimed at travelers, offering practical information. The image creates a romantic vision of Italy, but also obscures the social realities behind the picturesque facade. The islands themselves were owned by the aristocratic Borromeo family, whose wealth depended on the labor of the local population. The image naturalizes this social hierarchy, presenting it as an essential part of the landscape. To fully understand the meaning of this print, we might consult travel guides, hotel registers, and other archival materials. Only then can we begin to grasp the complex social relations that shaped the experience of tourism in 19th century Italy.