Gezicht op Badia Vecchia te Taormina, Italië 1851 - 1900

Giovanni Crupi made this photograph of Badia Vecchia in Taormina, Italy, at the turn of the 20th century. It presents the viewer with a tranquil, almost timeless scene: women and children gather in the foreground, while ancient buildings nestle against the hillside. But photographs like this also served another purpose during this period. Crupi was part of a generation of photographers who documented Italy for both local consumption and the burgeoning tourist industry. These images catered to a desire for picturesque views of Italy's rich past, often emphasizing the timelessness of rural life and ancient monuments. The social conditions of southern Italy, including poverty and emigration, are conspicuously absent. The aesthetic choices in Crupi's work, such as the composition and the soft focus, contribute to a romanticized view. To understand this image fully, we need to consider its place within the visual culture of its time and the social and economic forces that shaped its production and reception. By consulting archives, historical societies, and other resources, we can better understand the public role of art and the politics of imagery.