Festa della Sensa (dertiende gedeelte) 1679

Jost Amman created this segment of the “Festa della Sensa” in the late 16th century using woodcut. At first glance, we see a festive scene of Venetian society on gondolas during the annual Ascension Day celebrations. The “Festa della Sensa” commemorated Venice’s maritime power and its symbolic marriage to the sea. What’s fascinating is how this public ritual reinforced the city’s identity as a dominant force through carefully choreographed displays of wealth and power. But who got to participate in this performance? Notice how the figures are predominantly wealthy, white Venetians, with the lower classes, women, and people of color on the periphery. Consider this image as a snapshot of a society that celebrated its own opulence while carefully controlling who had access to it. While the image appears to document Venetian glory, it also quietly reveals the complex dynamics of inclusion, exclusion, and power.