Gezicht op het Piazza del Popolo in Rome c. 1860 - 1880

Giorgio Sommer created this albumen print of the Piazza del Popolo in Rome sometime in the mid-19th century. With its careful composition, this photograph invites us to consider the cultural and political forces shaping Rome during this period. The Piazza del Popolo, prominently displayed, was not just a public space, but a stage upon which the drama of Roman life played out. This was Italy, remember, and it was in the midst of the Risorgimento, the unification of Italy. You can see how the obelisk and the church in the distance are visual symbols of power, tradition, and perhaps even resistance to the changes of the time. Sommer's choice to capture this scene speaks to the public role of art, as photography becomes a medium to document and comment on the social structures of the time. Understanding art like this requires archival research. Through historical documents, we learn about the specific events, political movements, and economic conditions that shaped the world in which Sommer created this work. Only then can we begin to grasp its significance and meaning.