Le bassin, vu du quai des Esclavons 

Félix Ziem painted this view of Venice, "Le bassin, vu du quai des Esclavons," using oils, a medium that invites layering and luminosity. Note how Ziem builds up the scene with broad, confident strokes, capturing the shimmering light on the water and the architectural grandeur of the Doge's Palace. This wasn't just about accurately depicting a scene; it was about evoking the sensory experience of being there, the hazy warmth of the Venetian light, the gentle lapping of water against the quays. Oil paint, since its popularization in the Renaissance, has been associated with wealth and status. Ziem's loose, impressionistic style also reflects a shift away from the highly polished, academic painting of earlier eras, toward a more direct and immediate engagement with the world. His art democratizes how we see the world, appreciating the beauty of everyday life rather than grand historical narratives.