Venice c. 19th century

Curator: This is Edward Goodall's "Venice", housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so delicate. The stippling and hatching really give a sense of Venetian light shimmering off the water. But the scale feels… removed. Curator: The proliferation of such views of Venice reinforced its image as a site of cultural tourism, exotic but also comfortably knowable for the British middle classes. Editor: The precision of the engraving process suggests an interest in mechanical reproduction, and in making Venice a commodity for mass consumption. Was the architecture fetishized to sell an experience? Curator: Absolutely, the image flattens the complexities of Venetian society, focusing instead on easily digestible symbols of its grandeur. It was a tool for cultural appropriation. Editor: Seeing the city distilled down to this object reminds me how deeply our experiences are shaped by material forces. Curator: Indeed. This print reveals the power of imagery in constructing our understanding of place and culture.