Sculptuur van de Fratelli Canaris in Villa Giulia te Palermo, Italië 1876 - 1914

This photograph shows a sculpture of the Fratelli Canaris in Villa Giulia, Palermo, taken by Giorgio Sommer. It's a salted paper print from the 19th century, a process that involves coating paper with a salt solution, then silver nitrate, to make it light-sensitive. The texture of the paper and the chemical process give the image a soft, almost hazy quality, capturing the smooth surface of the original marble sculpture. Sommer's choice of photography as a medium democratized the artwork. Sculpture at this time was a very labor-intensive and expensive craft, often commissioned by the elite. However, the photographic print allowed for wider distribution and appreciation of this artwork. Think about the labor involved, not just in carving the original sculpture, but also in preparing the photographic materials, taking the shot, and printing the final image. By shifting our focus to the material and the process, we recognize the multiple layers of skill and effort embedded within this image. This way, we challenge the traditional hierarchies that often separate art from craft.