Gezicht op Ponte della Paglia en het Dogepaleis in Venetië c. 1850 - 1880

This is Carlo Naya's photographic stereoview of the Ponte della Paglia and Doge's Palace in Venice. Naya, of Swiss-Italian heritage, operated in Venice during a time when the city was undergoing significant transformations, as it transitioned from Austrian rule to become part of a unified Italy. Naya's choice to photograph Venice reflects the city's allure as a site of cultural and historical significance, but also as an early tourist destination. Venice, with its history of maritime power and artistic innovation, became a subject of fascination for travelers from around the world. Naya catered to this interest by producing images that captured the city's most iconic landmarks. In his photographs we see how identities, whether Venetian, Italian, or foreign, were constructed and negotiated through visual representation. Do the figures placed in the foreground represent an exoticized vision of Venetian life? Or do they represent the artist's attempt to ground these places in everyday life. Either way, the photo is a reminder of Venice's enduring appeal as a symbol of beauty, culture, and the passage of time.