Gezicht op de Corso Vittorio Emanuele te Milaan, Italië 1864 - 1881

This photograph by Giacomo Brogi captures the Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy during a period of significant social change. Brogi, an Italian photographer, documented the urban landscape during the late 19th century, a time when Italy was undergoing modernization and unification. The photograph presents a seemingly straightforward depiction of a bustling city street, yet it subtly reflects the complex dynamics of identity and class of that time. Note how the architecture is imposing and orderly. How do the awnings line the street and perhaps give a sense of commerce and trade which was on the rise in the newly unified Italian state. Consider the social hierarchy embedded in the scene. The wide avenue, the elegant buildings, and the distant Duomo cathedral all speak to the grandeur of Milan. But they also hint at the power structures that shaped urban development and social life. The city was expanding and industrializing but at what cost? As you view this image, consider how photographs like this have been used to frame and shape our understanding of history and progress.