Gezicht op de Engelenbrug en de Engelenburcht te Rome, Italië 1864 - 1881

Editor: This is "Gezicht op de Engelenbrug en de Engelenburcht te Rome, Italië," a photograph by Giacomo Brogi, sometime between 1864 and 1881. The tones are really lovely – warm sepias – and the reflection in the water is mesmerizing. What strikes me most is the inclusion of both the Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica in the same image. What story is this photograph trying to tell us? Curator: Well, it's more than just a pretty picture, isn't it? Consider Rome at this time. Photography became a tool for constructing narratives of progress and modernity. Brogi likely understood that these two monuments, the Castel Sant'Angelo and St. Peter’s, held immense symbolic weight. The Castel Sant'Angelo, with its history stretching back to ancient Rome and its papal modifications, spoke to temporal power, whilst St. Peter's clearly refers to religious authority. Editor: So, by showing them together, is Brogi commenting on the relationship between the Church and the State? Was it a statement on power dynamics? Curator: Precisely. And, it’s a bit loaded as far as tourist photography is concerned. These images weren’t only made to appeal to tourists, but also constructed an idea of Italy for both internal and external consumption. The angle of the shot flattens the landscape and enhances that sense of co-existence and possibly collaboration. Photography, like any medium, served as a way to idealize particular versions of history, obscuring others. Editor: That makes sense. I always think of these old photographs as objective records, but they really are carefully constructed arguments. Thank you! I'll never look at tourist photography the same way again. Curator: It’s important to remember that seemingly straightforward depictions carry layers of historical and cultural meaning. This photo is more than just a picturesque view of Rome, and I have definitely appreciated digging into the context of its making!