Gezicht op de Spaanse trappen in Rome c. 1870 - 1890

This albumen print showing the Spanish Steps in Rome was produced by Giorgio Sommer, an Italian photographer of German origin, in the late 19th century. Sommer’s image invites us to consider the layers of history embedded in this famous site. The Spanish Steps, built in the 1720s, were designed to connect the Spanish Embassy to the Trinità dei Monti church above, physically embodying the diplomatic and religious powers of the time. Sommer’s photograph captures not only the grandeur of the architecture but also the everyday life that unfolds around it. Market stalls line the base of the steps, hinting at the economic activities and social interactions that animate the space. Photography in the 19th century was often used to document and disseminate images of power and progress, but it also served as a tool for shaping perceptions of cultural identity and place. Sommer’s work, produced for a tourist market, romanticizes Rome, inviting viewers to imagine themselves within its timeless beauty, even as it also captures the city’s vibrant, bustling streets.