Fotoreproductie van een mozaïek te Pompeï, Italië 1857 - 1875

Giorgio Sommer made this photographic reproduction of a mosaic from Pompeii, Italy, sometime before his death in 1914. It depicts a lararium, a shrine to the guardian spirits of a Roman home, and it gives us a window into the social values of the ancient world. The image creates meaning through its classical architectural motifs, such as the columns and pediment that frame the shrine. The hanging game and fish are visual codes reflecting the values of Roman society, where the display of wealth and status was paramount. Pompeii, a city frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, offers invaluable insights into daily life in the Roman Empire. Sommer's photograph, taken centuries later, highlights the ongoing fascination with Roman antiquity and its influence on European culture. To understand this artwork better, one might consult archaeological reports, social histories of the Roman Empire, and studies of 19th-century photography. Considering the social and institutional context is crucial to understanding this image's lasting impact.