Venice. Quay Grand Canal with views of the island of San Giorgio 

Boris Kustodiev made this oil-on-canvas painting of Venice, likely in the early 20th century. It captures the Quay of the Grand Canal, with the island of San Giorgio in the distance, and gives us a glimpse into the artist's perspective on this iconic Italian city. Kustodiev, a Russian artist, presents Venice through a lens that is both admiring and subtly critical. The architectural grandeur is evident, yet the figures populating the scene appear somewhat anonymous, dwarfed by their surroundings. This was a period when Venice was transitioning from a historical power to a tourist destination. Kustodiev seems to capture that shift, showing a city living off its past glories. By studying travel journals, postcards, and guidebooks from the same period, we can better understand how Venice was perceived and marketed. Kustodiev's painting invites us to consider the relationship between art, tourism, and the preservation of cultural heritage. His work serves as a reminder that what we see is always mediated by social and institutional forces.