Gezicht op het stadhuis te Bern 1880 - 1900

This photograph, "View of the Town Hall in Bern," was captured by Giorgio Sommer sometime in the late 19th century. Sommer has meticulously framed the Town Hall to explore the interplay between architectural grandeur and urban space. Notice how the symmetrical composition draws your eye to the center, where the building's elaborate staircase and clock face command attention. The muted sepia tones and the clarity of detail evoke a sense of timelessness, yet there is also a palpable tension. The geometric precision of the building contrasts with the organic elements, like the foliage adorning the staircase. The photograph operates almost as a sign, encoding cultural values and aesthetic preferences of the time. Sommer’s structured approach reflects an emerging desire to capture, categorize, and understand the world through visual means. He has not just represented a building, but also constructed a dialogue between form, function, and representation.