Casa del Poeta Tragico, Pompei (House of the Tragic Poet, Pompeii) c. 1870

Giorgio Sommer made this albumen print of the Casa del Poeta Tragico, or House of the Tragic Poet, in Pompeii sometime in the 19th century. Sommer's photograph offers a glimpse into the rediscovery of the ancient world during this period. The excavation of Pompeii, beginning in the 18th century, captured the imagination of European society, fueling a fascination with classical antiquity. Sommer, a German photographer based in Italy, capitalized on this interest by documenting the archaeological site. His photographs, like this one, were not merely records, but also cultural artifacts that shaped how people understood Pompeii. Consider the role of photography itself in constructing this image of the past. Photography provided a seemingly objective view, yet Sommer's choices—the framing, the lighting—influenced how viewers perceived this space. Understanding the social conditions that shaped both the rediscovery of Pompeii and the development of photography helps us interpret this image as more than just a depiction of ruins; it's a window into the cultural values of 19th-century Europe. Historical sources, such as travelogues, archaeological reports, and photographic catalogs, can shed further light on this complex interplay between art, history, and society.