Scala dei Giganti bij het Dogepaleis te Venetië, Italië 1857 - 1914

Curator: Giorgio Sommer’s gelatin-silver print, titled “Scala dei Giganti bij het Dogepaleis te Venetië, Italië,” was created sometime between 1857 and 1914. This is a photograph capturing a section of the Doge's Palace in Venice, specifically the Scala dei Giganti, the staircase of the giants. Editor: It gives a very imposing feeling. There’s a solidity to the architecture, even in a grayscale photograph. I can almost feel the weight of all those marble blocks. Curator: Sommer’s choice to capture this particular architectural element is telling. The Scala dei Giganti wasn’t just any staircase; it was a ceremonial space. Public decrees were proclaimed here and it features sculptures of Mars and Neptune symbolizing Venice's power on land and sea, suggesting themes of justice and Venetian dominion. Editor: The way the photograph is framed almost makes the architecture appear like a factory – all those repetitive arches seem functional above all else. This could indicate the photographer was really interested in the means of production required to generate a building of this type. Think of the manpower that was needed to produce all the components for this one scene alone. Curator: That is a very compelling idea. On another level, consider those giant statues presiding over the scene. They evoke a sense of history, grandeur, and the enduring power of the Venetian Republic, linking the viewer to classical ideals and perhaps to a yearning for a lost golden age. Editor: But looking closer at the medium, the gelatin-silver print…this photographic technique itself became so widespread precisely because of its reproducibility. Mass culture and monumentality kind of coming together in a really neat, physical form. Curator: Interesting point. I suppose in that regard it also touches on a tension between artistic originality and the democratizing aspect of photography, making grand architectural sites like this accessible to a wider audience, not just Venetian nobles. Editor: Exactly. This photograph as object really highlights how even seemingly straightforward images are tied into systems of labor, capital, and social structure. Curator: The photograph does make you ponder the weight of symbols and power, and how those meanings shift through the lens of history. Editor: Absolutely, it’s fascinating how materials can ground even the most idealized symbols.