Exterieur van de San Giovanni degli Eremiti te Palermo, Italië 1857 - 1914

This photograph captures the exterior of the San Giovanni degli Eremiti in Palermo, Italy, by Giorgio Sommer. The composition is dominated by geometric forms: the spherical domes contrast with the cubic structure of the buildings. Sommer's choice to frame the architecture with lush foliage introduces an interplay between organic and inorganic shapes, softening the monumentality of the stone structures. The sepia tones lend a timeless quality, emphasizing the textures of the weathered stone and the dense vegetation. The photograph employs a semiotic system, where the architectural forms represent cultural and historical meanings. The domes evoke Byzantine influences, while the geometric precision reflects a rational, architectural order. This juxtaposition destabilizes fixed notions of style, engaging with complex ideas about space, perception and representation. Ultimately, it is the geometry of the architecture and the contrast in textures, set against the sepia tones, which invite us to interpret the cultural and philosophical dialogue embedded within this historical site.