Gezicht op het monument van Leonardo da Vinci in Milaan 1864 - 1881

Giacomo Brogi made this photograph of the monument to Leonardo da Vinci in Milan in the late 19th century, using albumen print. Brogi’s Italy was one of burgeoning national identity, struggling to reconcile its past with its present. The photograph captures more than just a monument, it encapsulates the complex act of memorializing a cultural figure. Monuments have long served as tools of nation-building, designed to shape public memory and promote particular versions of history. This monument, dedicated to Leonardo, speaks volumes about the values and ideals that the people of Milan sought to project onto their city. Look closely at the children in the foreground, juxtaposed with the imposing figure of Leonardo. What does it mean to encounter history in public space? What stories do these monuments tell, and whose voices are amplified or silenced in the process? As you reflect on this image, consider the ongoing debates about monuments and their place in contemporary society.