Castellammare on the Gulf of Naples 1835

Rudolf von Alt captured Castellammare on the Gulf of Naples using watercolor to convey the visual experience that the location offers. In the 19th century, the European landscape tradition often reflected more than just scenery; it mirrored colonial power dynamics and romanticized ideals of the 'exotic'. Von Alt's painting is no exception. The peasant leading the donkey quietly underscores the social stratification inherent in these landscapes. The identity of the working class is essential to the scene, yet they are simultaneously generalized, almost anonymous. The peasant is a stand-in for labor and rural life, set against the backdrop of a civilized vista. The vista of Naples is presented as picturesque. Yet it simplifies the complex realities of a region marked by stark socio-economic contrasts. While viewers at the time would have seen beauty, it is crucial for us to recognize the selective framing which emphasized aesthetic pleasure over social commentary. We're left to consider whose stories are told, and perhaps more importantly, whose are left out.