Canal Scene c. 20th century

Curator: Okay, here we have a watercolor piece entitled "Canal Scene," dating from around the 20th century, currently residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, signed by the artist Andrea Biondetti. Editor: Oh, it's instantly Venice, isn’t it? All that sun-drenched brick reflecting in the water. There's this hazy dreaminess to it... feels very romantic, in that sort of faded, postcard kind of way. Curator: Yes, the subject is certainly evocative, a classic Venetian vista. The painting captures that feeling of light bouncing off the water and the ancient buildings lining the canal. I think it reflects Venice's history as a major European center of art, trade, and diplomacy. The water here, isn't just scenery: it’s part of the urban and social infrastructure of the city. Editor: True. It also reads as more idyllic than, say, bustling. I notice the composition pulls your eye right down the canal, making it almost…theatrical. The artist uses those strong verticals of the buildings to kind of frame the water like a stage. There's that small, charming little figure of a child pulling on a mother’s coat which pulls us into the piece, somehow. Curator: Indeed, Biondetti uses the architecture as both structure and visual interest. The buildings' reflections and shadows help to animate the water's surface, providing subtle variations and color that are beautiful. What kind of purpose might these works have fulfilled? Editor: Tourist art, almost certainly. It’s lovely, accessible, well-executed…exactly the sort of thing that well-to-do travellers would have wanted to bring back with them as a keepsake from their time abroad, showing a sort of sophisticated grasp of picturesque beauty. Curator: Possibly commissioned as well, a record of a visit, perhaps, by the commissioner, themselves, or even by loved ones. They do appear to capture a specific atmosphere of the city during the period. Editor: And beautifully! Makes you want to hop on a gondola, even with all the tourists. It does feel a little sentimental, almost like it's idealizing the place somehow… Curator: Perhaps all that sentimentality can be seen in tension, and is merely an interpretation, colored with longing, for this sinking city. It’s really interesting to think about. Editor: That's true! Okay, I feel like I have a fresher vision of the art and what it may mean after hearing this, so thanks for opening the canal to me. Curator: My pleasure. Perhaps you should consider finding some watercolor after this talk and try capturing some beauty on the canal yourself?