Sorrento c. 1888 - 1903

Giorgio Sommer made this photograph of Sorrento, Italy, sometime in the late 19th century. It’s a relatively early example of photography as a means of mass production, using a process that allowed for multiple prints from a single negative. Sommer, who was German, set up his studio in Naples and profited from the booming tourist trade. The image is made through albumen print, a process using egg whites to bind the photographic chemicals to the paper. This resulted in a smooth surface and a wide tonal range, visible in the subtle gradations of light and shadow across the landscape. The photo’s material qualities are important because this process allowed for detailed reproductions, which catered to the Victorian desire for picturesque views of exotic locales. Sommer essentially industrialized the gaze of his time, turning beautiful landscapes into commodities, feeding a growing appetite for travel and visual consumption. This image, like many others, reflects the complex relationship between art, commerce, and the burgeoning tourist industry.