Gezicht op de Porta Magna van het Arsenaal in Venetië before 1898

This photograph captures the Porta Magna of the Arsenale in Venice, though the photographer remains anonymous. The Arsenale, a symbol of Venetian power, built the city's naval fleet, the source of its economic and military dominance. Here, the photograph frames the grand entrance, flanked by statues and a clock tower, with two figures carrying a load across the foreground. This composition invites us to consider the layers of Venetian society. The grandeur of the architecture speaks to the city's elite, whose wealth and power was directly linked to the labor of its working class. The figures in the foreground remind us of the everyday lives that supported Venice's grand facade. The contrast between the monumental architecture and the anonymous laborers evokes questions about who is remembered in history and whose stories are often overlooked. It invites a reflection on power, labor, and the narratives that shape our understanding of the past.