Gezicht op het Colosseum in Rome before 1898

This is a photograph of the Colosseum in Rome, and it comes from a book. Although the photographer is unknown, this image provides insight into 19th-century European cultural values. During the 1800s, the European Grand Tour became a rite of passage for upper-class men, eager to deepen their appreciation for art, architecture, and history. Italy, as the heart of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, was a crucial stop. While the tour was ostensibly educational, it reinforced existing class structures and cultural norms. Photographs like this one became popular souvenirs, offering a readily available, widely distributed way to bring home a piece of the past. The way that the image romanticizes the Colosseum—with its clean lines and classical form—speaks to the era's fascination with the grandeur of antiquity. To truly understand this image, we must consider the socio-economic context of its creation, as well as the history of travel, photography, and the publishing industry.