Gezicht op de rede met schepen voor anker bij Bari 1778

Louis Ducros created this watercolor of the harbor with ships anchored near Bari. The late 18th century was an era marked by the Grand Tour, where wealthy Europeans, primarily men, traveled across the continent to deepen their knowledge of art, culture, and history. Ducros, as an artist, played a key role in shaping the visual experiences of these travelers, producing picturesque scenes of Italy. "Gezicht op de rede met schepen voor anker bij Bari," or "View of the Roads with Ships Anchored near Bari" presents a serene harbor scene, yet the figures on the embankment invite us to consider the broader context of maritime trade and cultural exchange. The men are rendered in the style of the time, with their clothing hinting at social class. The ships, symbols of commerce, also remind us of the underlying history of colonialism and exploitation that characterized this period. Ducros' work serves as a window into a world where the aesthetic appreciation of landscape and the realities of social and economic dynamics were closely intertwined.