La Salute, Effet De Matin 1880 - 1890

Curator: Just look at this shimmering cityscape. Félix Ziem, probably sometime between 1880 and 1890, captured Venice in this oil painting entitled “La Salute, Effet De Matin,” or "La Salute, Morning Effect.” Editor: My initial feeling is that this image feels dreamlike, like a half-remembered memory. The edges are blurred, and the light seems to dissolve the buildings. It's certainly romantic in its overall impression. Curator: Yes, precisely! That romantic sensibility aligns with the era's fascination with Venice as a place of beauty, decadence, and history. The brushstrokes evoke a sense of constant motion, perhaps hinting at the city’s perpetual flux, the ebb and flow that has been tied to Venice for centuries. Editor: Absolutely. The way he renders the basilica of Santa Maria della Salute – that dome becomes an emblem of Venice itself. Notice the way the artist has used very light and diffused strokes for it that also reinforce that notion of romanticized landscape. It’s soft, not precise, placing that iconic religious emblem centrally. What impact might the church have on its residents? Curator: It stands as a protector and a symbol of resilience and deliverance after plague. The architecture signifies not only civic pride, but the enduring faith of the Venetian population that’s gone hand in hand with their prosperity. Venice exists, to this day, at the confluence of power and sacred duty. Editor: Ziem is inviting us to feel something beyond just witnessing a pretty view. He invites us to access those emotional registers related to romantic art with this focus on feelings over accurate representations. The colors aren't strictly realistic; instead, they create a mood that is, in some sense, universal. What might have he wished to project on Venice in these colors? Curator: By shrouding Venice in this light, Ziem suggests its timelessness. His atmospheric rendering speaks to the emotional resonance of the city rather than its simple topographical features. Even now, in our own moment, this is how so many others picture Venice too. Editor: This painting reminds us how artists mediate our experiences with the world, and in this way Ziem makes Venice perpetually fascinating. Curator: Exactly. With these brushstrokes, Venice can become an emotion.