The Curved Canal 1909

Editor: "The Curved Canal," a 1909 etching on paper by Donald Shaw MacLaughlan. The intricate linework and detailed cityscape gives the work an energetic, bustling atmosphere. It’s as if you’re right there, experiencing Venice. What social context should we keep in mind as we consider it? Curator: That "bustling atmosphere" speaks to the art's moment. In the early 20th century, Venice, despite its historical grandeur, was grappling with modernisation. Mass tourism began transforming the city's economy, which some viewed as a corruption of authentic Venetian culture. How do you think MacLaughlan positions himself within that tension through his art? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the emerging tourism. Looking at the image, the gondolas and the architecture, it feels almost romanticised, doesn’t it? Perhaps reflecting a nostalgic view, resisting the inevitable changes. Curator: Exactly. Etchings were, at this time, increasingly collected and displayed not just by wealthy patrons but also by a burgeoning middle class, often serving as symbols of cultural refinement. Does this artwork strike you as an artifact of that impulse? Editor: I suppose so. The deliberate, artful scene is perhaps a curated view of Venice, fitting the aesthetic expectations of a certain class of art consumer, both promoting and profiting from a version of Venice. Curator: Precisely! Understanding the social function of the artwork at the time allows us to see beyond its immediate aesthetic appeal. Editor: Right! Considering MacLaughlan's choice of subject and the context of early 20th-century tourism, and class of consumer changes everything. It’s not just a pretty picture of Venice! Curator: Indeed. Examining the institutions and audiences surrounding a work, as much as the art itself, offers the fullest understanding.