Ogni Santi e San Trovaso, Venice 1885

Andrew Fisher Bunner made this pen and ink drawing of Venice, Italy, in 1895. At this time, Venice was a popular destination for artists and tourists alike, drawn to its romantic atmosphere and unique urban landscape. Bunner's choice of subject matter and medium speaks to a broader trend in late 19th-century art, where there was a renewed interest in capturing the everyday life and picturesque qualities of European cities. The black-and-white sketch is interesting in light of the popularity of color photography at the time. Perhaps this choice of monochrome helps reinforce a sense of nostalgia, and emphasizes the historic depth of Venice. To fully understand this drawing, we need to consider the social and cultural context in which it was created. Art historians use a variety of resources, such as period guidebooks, photographs, and other archival materials, to reconstruct the world that Bunner inhabited and to better understand the meaning and significance of his work.