Streets and Canals of Venice [Calli e Canali in Venezia] 1898

Editor: Here we have "Streets and Canals of Venice," a photograph published by Ferdinando Ongania. It’s a small print, and the stillness of the water gives it a somewhat melancholic feel. What strikes you when you look at this? Curator: It's a visual poem, isn't it? That dark, inky canal reflecting the architecture...it almost feels like a dream. The photo reminds me of old postcards, you know, holding a piece of history in your hands. Did they perhaps try to capture the essence of a fading world? Editor: I see what you mean, a sort of romanticized view. I didn't think about the ephemeral aspect. Curator: Exactly! Something to ponder on, isn't it?