View of Piazza San Marco 

Konstantin Gorbatov rendered this impressionistic view of the Piazza San Marco, likely in the early 20th century, using watercolor and pencil. Gorbatov, born in Russia, captures Venice with a sense of light and movement, a familiar subject rendered through his own cultural lens. The work hints at the intersection of labor and leisure in Venice. Small working boats occupy the foreground with figures that appear to be transporting goods, and the background reveals the bustling activity of what is likely a market day in the Piazza. We see how Venice has always been a place shaped by its waterways, and by those who work on them. The artist's choice of the Venetian landscape speaks to a desire for connection with the rich artistic traditions of Europe. What might it have meant for Gorbatov, a Russian artist, to represent this iconic Italian scene? In approaching this watercolor, reflect on the personal and cultural exchanges that shape our understanding and representation of place.