Le porte del Dolo: the oval basin of the locks at Dolo, with a barge moored to the quay 1735 - 1746

This etching of the oval basin of the locks at Dolo was created by Canaletto in the 18th century, a period when Venice was a hub of cultural exchange and artistic innovation. Canaletto's detailed rendering captures the daily life and architectural nuances of the Venetian lagoon. The scene presents a stratified social tableau. Affluent figures in the foreground are juxtaposed with working-class individuals laboring by the canal. Consider how this composition reflects the class structures inherent in Venetian society, where the waterways were both a source of wealth and a site of labor. The meticulous detail Canaletto employs is not merely descriptive, but a commentary on the relationship between the wealthy and the working class. The controlled lines of the etching emphasize the socio-economic dynamics of the city and the hierarchies that define it. "Le porte del Dolo" offers us a window into the visual and social textures of 18th-century Venice.