The Redentore, Venice 19th-20th century

Curator: This evocative watercolor is titled "The Redentore, Venice," by Denman Waldo Ross. There's such an airy, dreamlike quality to it, isn't there? Editor: It almost feels unfinished, yet there's a sharp contrast at play here. The industrial presence of the steamboat feels like it is invading this seemingly idyllic cityscape. Curator: Yes, and the puffs of smoke create this fascinating tension between the romantic architectural silhouette of the church in the background and the forward march of modernity. I love how Ross captures the light shimmering on the water... Editor: I agree. There's an inherent class dimension here, too. The Redentore was built to celebrate the end of a plague, but now it witnesses the slow burn of environmental degradation at the hands of industrial progress. Curator: I see your point, and yet, I’m drawn to the beauty he finds in these converging worlds. Editor: It's a complicated beauty, one that invites us to consider whose stories are being told, and at whose expense. Curator: Well, Denman Waldo Ross certainly gives us much to think about with this little piece, doesn't he? Editor: Indeed. It's a poignant reminder that history and progress are ever intertwined.