Gezicht op het Monte dei Cappuccini in Turijn c. 1870 - 1885

This photograph, "Gezicht op het Monte dei Cappuccini in Turijn," captures a view of Turin, Italy and was taken by Giovanni Battista Maggi. During this era, photography began to democratize image-making, yet the subjects remained largely those of the elite. This view, with its focus on architecture and landscape, speaks to a particular kind of 19th-century gaze: one that is interested in the picturesque and the monumental. The image presents a somewhat romantic vision of the city, with the Monte dei Cappuccini, a prominent landmark, looming in the background. What stories might the unpictured inhabitants of this city tell? What were their experiences of urban life, shaped by class, gender, and the rapidly changing social fabric of the time? How does this image, in its selective framing, include certain narratives while excluding others? Photographs like these offer a glimpse into the past, but also invite us to consider the complexities of representation, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about history.