Gezicht op de wijk Vomero met een pijnboom op de voorgrond, Napels, Italië 1857 - 1914

Giorgio Sommer made this albumen print, titled 'View of the Vomero district with a pine tree in the foreground, Naples, Italy', in the latter half of the 19th century. Sommer, a German photographer who established a successful studio in Naples, catered to the burgeoning tourist industry. This image presents more than just a picturesque scene; it encapsulates the romanticized vision of Italy sought after by European travelers during this period. Photography, in its relative infancy, played a crucial role in shaping perceptions and desires, allowing viewers to possess a tangible piece of the places they visited or longed to see. Sommer’s choice to foreground the pine tree does more than provide depth. It also evokes the classical landscape tradition while framing a rapidly urbanizing Naples. The composition subtly contrasts nature and urban development, inviting viewers to consider their relationship. Consider how this photograph, now over a century old, still shapes our ideas about place, history, and beauty.