Naples_ View from Molo c. 1857 - 1865

Giorgio Sommer captured this image of "Naples, View from Molo" with a camera, presenting a slice of 19th-century Italian life. The photograph's composition is structured by strong horizontal lines—the pier, the sea, the buildings, and the distant mountain range—which create a sense of depth and order. Sommer skillfully uses light and shadow, characteristic of the albumen print process, to emphasize textures and forms. The tonal range captures the architectural details and the bustling activity along the pier, drawing our eye through the scene. Considered through a semiotic lens, the photograph operates as a collection of signs. The architecture signifies urban life, while the ships and figures represent commerce and human activity. The photograph presents a carefully constructed representation of Naples. Sommer's work invites us to analyze the interplay between representation and reality and to deconstruct the visual codes that shape our understanding.