Strada del Molo te Napels, met gezicht op het Castel Nuovo en het Castel Sant' Elmo c. 1880 - 1895

This photograph, 'Strada del Molo te Napels, met gezicht op het Castel Nuovo en het Castel Sant' Elmo', captures a panoramic view of Naples, Italy. The Fratelli Alinari have structured the composition using strong linear perspective, guiding the eye along the road toward the distant Castel Sant' Elmo. The use of sepia tones flattens the image, reducing contrast and emphasizing the textural elements of the architecture and the road surface. Semiotically, the photograph presents a layered reading: the road signifies progress and connection, while the imposing castles represent power and history. The framing of the shot destabilizes a straightforward interpretation of Naples; it does not romanticize the city but presents it as a complex interplay of space and form. The receding lines and muted palette invite viewers to contemplate not just the scene itself but also the structural elements that construct our perception of space and place. In this way, the photograph becomes a study in how visual elements shape understanding.