Amalfi dal Convento dei Capuccini 19th-20th century

Giorgio Sommer captured this albumen print of Amalfi around the mid-19th century, a process involving coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate. This method, relatively simple, created a glossy surface ideal for sharp photographic detail. Consider how the final print comes from a complex intersection of materials. The Amalfi landscape itself, the monk’s coarse woolen robe, the stone balustrade, even the chemical compounds of the photographic process – all contribute to the image's power. The final print reveals a layered history of labor and resources, of religious devotion, the daily lives of those in the seaside town, and the photographer’s craft. Photographs like this were produced for a burgeoning tourist market, feeding a desire for picturesque views and cultural souvenirs. The ease and relative affordability of photography meant that this desire could be met on a large scale, transforming not only the way places like Amalfi were seen, but how they were consumed as experiences. This image invites us to reflect on the social and economic forces that shape both the production and reception of art, bridging the gap between the image, material, and the world it represents.