Gezicht op gondels in de lagune van Venetië, in de verte rechts de Santa Maria della Presentazione en links de kerk van San Giorgio Maggiore 1889 - 1893

This is a photograph of gondolas in the lagoon of Venice, taken by Johanna Margaretha Piek. Born in the Netherlands in 1870, Piek's life and work existed in a time when women’s roles in the arts were expanding, yet often confined to certain genres like portraiture or landscape. This image captures a romanticized vision of Venice. The gondolas, iconic symbols of the city, are set against the backdrop of the Santa Maria della Presentazione and San Giorgio Maggiore churches. The composition is typical of the picturesque aesthetic, framing Venice as a serene, timeless place. Consider the social and economic context of Venice at the time. Gondolas, while visually appealing, were also a mode of transport and a part of the working lives of many Venetians. Piek’s photograph, however, seems to cater to a tourist gaze. It’s a view of Venice filtered through the lens of beauty and tranquility, potentially obscuring the lived realities of its inhabitants. In essence, the photograph offers us a window into the early 20th-century perception of Venice, shaped by both the artist's perspective and the cultural expectations of her time.