Amalfi c. 19th century

Curator: This albumen print, “Amalfi,” captured by Giorgio Sommer in the 19th century, is such a stunner. There's something so classic about it. Editor: Classic indeed. I'm immediately struck by the theatrical framing; the pathway receding into shadow like a stage set. There's such a strong tension between nature and architecture here. Curator: Right? The overgrowth provides an almost haunting feeling—especially given that it showcases, as noted on the print itself, the Grand Hotel dei Cappuccini built into the cliff. It’s beauty tinged with the sublime. I wonder about the absence of people, too, don't you? The way that lack of figures speaks volumes... Editor: Precisely! That absence is critical. Who were allowed access to this idyllic space? This perfectly manicured "nature"? Whose labor maintained this image of paradise for elite consumption? I am also wondering about Sommer’s vision. As the rise of tourism reconfigured European landscapes, photography served as a powerful tool, not just to document these new itineraries but also to mold our understanding of progress and development. Curator: Yes, this push-pull is everything. It’s easy to be seduced by the Italian light and shadow in the composition—but knowing something about the history lends the photo such a melancholic air, a trace of loss, like remembering a forgotten dream... It is, in other words, more than just a pretty picture. Editor: It reminds us how these images operate within larger social, political, and economic systems. "Amalfi" invites us to consider the complex relationships between art, power, and representation in 19th-century Europe and its relationship with the contemporary moment. Curator: Thanks for framing this photograph so powerfully. Now when I gaze upon this view I won't just appreciate the beauty. I will think more critically and contextually and with an active curiosity. Editor: Absolutely. This play between light and shadow is actually a rich interplay of context and critical inquiry—allowing us to view this landscape beyond mere nostalgia.