Gezicht op Milaan met de kathedraal before 1889

Curator: Right, so here we have an old book open to an illustration – "Gezicht op Milaan met de kathedraal" it's called. Pre-1889. It's a lithograph, almost like a photograph. The way it's bound into this book gives it such an intimate feeling, doesn't it? I’m immediately drawn to the cathedral dominating the skyline... its architectural extravagance really striking, wouldn’t you say? How do you interpret the work? Editor: Absolutely! I agree about the cathedral; it’s like everything is in service to it, the streets radiating out. And there's such detail, like I could spend hours just examining the buildings. What do you make of the sort of washed-out tone, everything kind of pale and faded? Curator: The pale tone definitely lends it a sense of faded glory, a bygone era, wouldn't you say? But also think about what a lithograph is: it's not just replicating reality; it's someone carefully translating three dimensions onto a flat surface. I imagine an artist sketching on site, selecting what to show us. Are they showing you *Milan* or *their impression of Milan* at the end of the 19th century? Does the artist give a romantic vibe of that italian renaissance? Editor: So, it’s as much about a mood or memory as it is about the specific architecture? I like that, it makes the scene feel more personal and evocative than just a picture. Curator: Exactly! And, isn't that the whole point? It’s an invitation to our own memories of a place, and how those get built. Looking at the work... I want to book a flight, and smell the past coming to life in front of me. Editor: Me too, all this art history has me planning trips now, thinking about layers of history I should breathe into life myself!