Man en vrouw op het geharde lava na een uitbarsting van de Vesuvius before 1879

Curator: This albumen print, taken before 1879 by Giorgio Sommer, is titled “Man en vrouw op het geharde lava na een uitbarsting van de Vesuvius,” which translates to “Man and woman on the hardened lava after an eruption of Vesuvius." Editor: Visually, it’s immediately striking. The stark contrast between the two figures, seemingly suspended amidst the vast expanse of cooled lava, gives a somber, almost desolate feel. Curator: Indeed. The figures provide scale, highlighting humanity’s precarious position in the face of nature’s immense power. Photography like this served a vital role in documenting and disseminating information about geological events to the public. Editor: And yet, there's something about the formality of the composition. The way they’re posed, almost statically, against the rough terrain feels deliberately arranged. The white clothing almost acting as beacons. Curator: I agree. Consider the context of its creation: the rise of tourism to sites like Pompeii after its rediscovery, the public fascination with Vesuvius and its destructive force. The photograph appeals to those interests while reinforcing colonial narratives of exploration. The figures themselves become symbols of European presence and “conquest” of the landscape. Editor: You’re right, viewing it in the social and political context enriches it. From a purely formal viewpoint though, note how Sommer uses the play of light and shadow to render depth on the rugged lava. Curator: That’s a critical element. Photography at the time was quite innovative with portraying scenes realistically while constructing desired views for viewers. This albumen print really captures the sublime spectacle, as it would have been imagined. Editor: Exactly. A controlled vision of sublime spectacle—that’s an interesting way of seeing it. Curator: And hopefully, hearing all of this enriches one's view when standing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Absolutely, something as seemingly straightforward as a landscape photograph contains worlds within its visual structure.