Standbeeld van Cavour op de Piazza Cavour in Milaan c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph by Sommer and Behles captures the statue of Cavour in Piazza Cavour in Milan. The statue commemorates Count Camillo Benso di Cavour, a leading figure in the movement for Italian unification in the mid-19th century, known as the Risorgimento. Photographs like this one played a role in shaping national identity and collective memory. Cavour, a nobleman and shrewd politician, served as Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia and skillfully maneuvered alliances and treaties to help bring about a unified Italy. The statue, with its imposing figure and classical style, embodies the values of leadership, strength, and national pride associated with Cavour. However, it's worth asking: whose stories are elevated in these national narratives, and whose are marginalized? While Cavour's legacy is celebrated, it’s essential to consider the experiences of ordinary people, women, and marginalized communities whose contributions and struggles may be overlooked in traditional accounts of nation-building. This photograph invites us to reflect on the complexities of history and the power of representation in shaping our understanding of the past.