Gezicht op de Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo 1631 - 1657

Israel Silvestre created this print, titled "Gezicht op de Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo," using etching techniques. Silvestre worked during a period of significant social stratification and cultural exchange. His depictions of European cities, like this view of Venice, were made for an elite audience, who were eager to display their knowledge of the world. However, the image also speaks volumes about the lives of those who remain unseen. It's a perspective of Venice carefully curated, primarily showing the architecture, and the waterways. But what about the gondoliers navigating the canals, or the laborers on the docks? Their presence, though small, suggests a complex interplay of labor, class, and identity within the city. How does the artist's choice to include these figures shape our understanding of Venice? Silvestre invites us to consider Venice as more than just a picturesque locale, it is a place of human interaction and endeavor.