Ingang van de Grotta Giusti in Pistoia 1860 - 1900

Curator: This albumen print, "Ingang van de Grotta Giusti in Pistoia" by Scevola Ghelli, dated between 1860 and 1900, showcases a building integrated within a landscape, complete with people. The tones feel a bit washed-out and very vintage. What strikes you? Editor: The textures of the stone building against the natural, less structured hill in the background create a striking contrast. What story do you think the artist is trying to tell here? Curator: I'm interested in the albumen print itself. Consider the process – coating paper with egg white, then using it to capture this scene. What does that choice of material and labor tell us? This isn't just a snapshot. It’s a constructed view meant for consumption. What’s being sold here? Editor: Are you suggesting the artist focused on commercial aspects by highlighting the location and implicitly marketing it to a wider audience? Curator: Precisely. Consider how the presence of people staged on the balcony creates a spectacle for us, the viewers, encouraging us to think of Grotta Giusti as a lively tourist destination, therefore influencing potential patronage and the economics around tourism and landscape photography in the 19th century. The image's value lies not only in its aesthetic appeal but also in its function as a form of advertising. Do you see any signs of class structure reflected here? Editor: It is true, viewing this work through a materialistic lens sheds new light. At first glance, I was focused on the landscape elements and composition. I do now see a complex story concerning materiality, class, labor, and capital. Curator: Exactly. Reflecting on the materials and processes by which this image was manufactured has allowed us to investigate a broader social and historical context that influences how we interpret this image and what makes this work more interesting. Editor: Thanks for your expertise, now I can understand this artwork with new angles.