Nocturne, San Giorgio 1880

This is Whistler's sketch, made with pencil and watercolor, capturing San Giorgio, Venice. The gondolas, lined up like ancient ships, immediately catch the eye. Consider these gondolas not merely as boats but as potent symbols. They echo the ships of antiquity, vessels that carried not just people but also ideas, commerce, and conflict. They evoke the very essence of Venice: a city born from water, sustained by trade, and steeped in history. Think of the Egyptian barques transporting souls across the Nile, or the Viking longships carrying warriors across the seas. The gondola, too, becomes a carrier, a vessel that transports us through time and memory. This procession has recurred throughout art history, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across different historical contexts. It engages us on a subconscious level with the past, allowing us to experience a potent and enduring sense of connection across time.