A view of the bell tower of Pisa in Tuscany 1816

Editor: This is Antonio Verico's "A view of the bell tower of Pisa in Tuscany." The lean is so dramatic! What kind of statement was Verico making with this image, and how might it have been received at the time? Curator: Prints like this served to popularize Pisa and its "defect" amongst a growing tourist industry. Consider how Verico frames the tower amongst everyday life; it’s normalized, even celebrated, within the social fabric. Does this alter how we view the tower's imperfection? Editor: So, it's not just a depiction, but a marketing tool shaping the perception of a place. Curator: Precisely! It’s about constructing an image and selling an experience. We need to consider how the print serves those goals. Editor: Fascinating to consider the tower as a commodity and its impact on tourism. Curator: Indeed, the tower becomes inseparable from its commodification.