Forum Romanum, gezien vanaf het Capitool te Rome, Italië 1857 - 1900

Fratelli Alinari's photograph captures the Forum Romanum in Rome from the Capitoline Hill. The image, likely taken in the late 19th century, presents a view of classical ruins, a testament to a bygone era, repurposed as a site for modern tourism and Italian nationalism. Photography played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of history and national identity. The Alinari brothers, pioneers in Italian photography, documented art and architecture, contributing to a visual archive of Italy's cultural heritage. This image, like many others, served to promote a sense of national pride, connecting contemporary Italy to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. The Forum, once the heart of political and social life, became a stage for constructing a narrative of continuity and greatness. To truly understand this photograph, we delve into the Alinari's archive, exploring their role in the booming tourist industry. What stories did they want to tell? How did they frame the past for their present? It’s by posing such questions that the meaning of this image emerges, contingent on its social and institutional context.