Gondolier 1905

John Singer Sargent painted "Gondolier" with oil on canvas, date unknown, portraying a Venetian boatman. The gondolier, traditionally working class, is elevated here through Sargent's refined technique and attention to detail. Sargent's approach reflects the late 19th-century fascination with Venice as a site of both beauty and decay. The romantic allure of Venice, however, often obscured the realities of its working population. Sargent's portrayal, while capturing the gondolier's dignified presence, also participates in the exoticization of Venetian culture for a tourist audience. The painting reflects the city’s dependence on tourism and the performance of its own identity. To fully understand a work like this, we delve into historical archives, travel writing, and economic data to uncover the complex interplay between art, tourism, and labor in 19th-century Venice.