Lagoon Capriccio with an Obelisk 1750 - 1770

Curator: This is Francesco Guardi's "Lagoon Capriccio with an Obelisk," a drawing made sometime between 1750 and 1770. It's currently housed here at the Met. Editor: Ah, instantly dreamlike. A faded reverie, like Venice half-remembered, shimmering just beyond reach. The textures—wispy lines and blurred shapes—feel fragile, transient. Curator: The "capriccio" itself is interesting, blending recognizable Venetian motifs with fantastical elements. We have an obelisk that likely never existed there, alongside familiar lagoon scenes. It speaks to the blurring of reality and invention in the Venetian imaginary. Editor: Absolutely. And that obelisk – phallic symbol alert! It grounds the ephemerality, right? Like the artist saying, "Even in this misty dreamscape, power still looms." It’s got a surprisingly assertive presence despite the lightness of the drawing. Curator: Well, obelisks frequently symbolize enduring power and remembrance across various cultures and time periods, but there's room for more than one perspective. Their presence in these scenes perhaps reflects Venice's own past glories. Remember, the lagoon itself carries immense symbolic weight. Water signifies fluidity, change, the subconscious. Editor: The way the figures are rendered! Tiny, almost indistinct, yet bustling. They’re part of the landscape, not dominating it, unlike in so many grand history paintings. This capriccio feels intimate, personal. Curator: Guardi uses ink and pencil in such a way that the city seems both permanent and ephemeral, highlighting that even stone dissolves and reforms over time. You almost feel the salty air and the humidity just rising off the page. Editor: You do, it’s incredibly evocative for something so lightly rendered. So, we have this dreamlike vision hinting at hidden anxieties – very Venetian. I’d almost say melancholic, if it weren’t so charming. It gives me a place for pause. Curator: Indeed, Guardi allows us to glimpse Venice not as it *was*, but how it might have *felt*. He hands down cultural knowledge by altering its setting into a different reality for his viewers. Editor: So, not just a pretty picture, but a loaded emotional landscape! Thanks for the download on what Guardi's trying to pass along to us. Curator: A pleasure. I'll let our visitors dwell further on their response to the symbolism!