Gezicht op Latomie del Paradiso te Syracuse, Sicilië 1857 - 1914

Editor: Here we have Giorgio Sommer’s gelatin silver print, "View of the Latomie del Paradiso in Syracuse, Sicily," taken sometime between 1857 and 1914. The scene feels both ancient and very immediate; there’s this interplay between the stark rock formations and the city just visible in the background. What resonates with you most when you look at this image? Curator: I see layers of meaning inscribed within these stones. The Latomie del Paradiso—the Paradise Quarry—gained its name through a bitter irony, didn’t it? Initially, it was a source of building material. But culturally, our memories tell us this site became a prison for thousands of Athenian soldiers after their defeat in 413 BC. Editor: A prison turned “paradise”... that's quite a transformation. Curator: Indeed. And Sommer’s lens captures this tension. The rock face itself is imposing, almost like a palimpsest, bearing witness to centuries of human activity. Even the presence of vegetation hints at resilience, life reclaiming what was once a site of suffering. Do you notice the scale of the quarry in relation to the city nestled on the higher ground? Editor: Yes, the city seems so distant, almost detached from the drama unfolding below. It definitely amplifies the sense of isolation within the quarry. Curator: Precisely. It suggests a disconnect, a visual commentary on power and the marginalized. Think of the quarry as a symbolic container, holding stories of exploitation and endurance. What does that imply about the enduring human spirit? Editor: I hadn't considered the "container" idea but it certainly provides much more to ponder. Thanks for bringing that symbolism into focus! Curator: It’s through exploring these visual echoes that we begin to truly understand the emotional and historical weight that photographs can carry.