Interieur van een galerij op de begraafplaats van Staglieno in Genua c. 1870 - 1890

Alfredo Noack made this albumen print of a gallery in the Staglieno Cemetery in Genoa in the late nineteenth century. Cemeteries like Staglieno, combining architecture and sculpture, emerged in Europe as expressions of civic pride and cultural memory. This image, with its formal arrangement and classical references, echoes the grand, institutional architecture of its time. Italy, during this period, was undergoing significant social and political changes with its unification, seeking to define its national identity through its art and institutions. The Staglieno Cemetery served as a public space, and a stage for the display of wealth and status. The elaborate tombs represent not only personal loss but also a performance of social standing. To better understand the photograph, one might consult period guidebooks and historical records of the cemetery, to uncover the social dynamics at play. This helps us see the photograph not just as a depiction of a place, but as a reflection of its time.