The Riva 1879 - 1880

Editor: This is James Abbott McNeill Whistler’s etching, "The Riva," from around 1880. The scene is bustling, but there is something calm about the way the people are captured. What stories do you think Whistler is trying to tell here? Curator: Look at the deliberate placement of figures; notice how groups are clustered. What feeling does that evoke? Consider the cultural memory Venice carries – a place of commerce, mystery, and transient encounters. Whistler captures that perfectly in the symbolism of the figures. Editor: It is a place of commerce, I see how the boats suggest that. Curator: Consider the gondola; more than just transport, it is a potent symbol of Venetian identity and romance. Whistler uses it to evoke a sense of place. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered; thank you. I'll certainly look at Whistler's other works with a different eye now.