Rio San Giacomo, Venice 1885

Andrew Fisher Bunner created "Rio San Giacomo, Venice," around 1885, using pen and ink to capture a moment in the Floating City. The drawing’s composition immediately draws our eye to the arched bridge, a central structure connecting the detailed buildings on either side of the canal. Bunner's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates depth and texture, animating the surfaces of the aged buildings and reflecting the water. The precision of line work gives a sense of place, yet the slight looseness prevents it from being overly rigid. The artwork reflects a broader artistic interest in capturing urban scenes with an emphasis on line and form over color. It invites us to consider how the artist uses the medium’s structural properties to evoke mood and meaning. Bunner’s rendering transforms the visual experience into a contemplative engagement with architectural and environmental forms.