Three Women with Bundles of Sticks in Amalfi - Giorgio Sommer

A nineteenth-century albumen print by Giorgio Sommer documenting three women carrying bundles of wood in Amalfi.

This albumen print by Giorgio Sommer captures a scene of daily life in Amalfi during the late nineteenth century. Sommer, a German photographer who established a successful studio in Naples, produced a vast catalogue of images documenting the topography and social customs of Italy. His work was highly sought after by travellers on the Grand Tour, who collected these prints as souvenirs of their Mediterranean journeys.

The composition features three women positioned along a stone staircase, each carrying a substantial bundle of sticks on her back. The stark, sun-bleached architecture of the Amalfi coast provides a high-contrast backdrop for the figures. Sommer utilised the natural light of the region to define the textures of the stone walls and the rough bundles of wood. The image reflects the ethnographic interest common among photographers of the period, who sought to record the traditional labour practices of rural populations before the onset of rapid industrialisation.

As a commercial photographer, Sommer maintained a rigorous technical standard. His prints are known for their clarity and tonal range, which allowed for the documentation of fine details in both the environment and the clothing of his subjects. This specific print, preserved within an album, retains the original mounting corners, which adds a layer of provenance regarding its history as a collected object. The photograph offers a glimpse into the social history of the region, documenting the physical demands of rural life in the nineteenth century. By focusing on the figures in their immediate environment, Sommer provides a record of the human presence within the dramatic geography of the Italian coast.