Old Doorway in Venice 19th-20th century

Curator: This is Charles Herbert’s "Old Doorway in Venice," held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It certainly evokes a sense of quiet decay. Editor: The stark, linear quality of the print, focusing on the worn brickwork, speaks volumes about the slow erosion of Venetian architecture and, metaphorically, the passage of time impacting marginalized communities historically tied to the lagoon. Curator: Herbert's meticulous detailing of the brick, stone, and the water suggests an investment in the tactile reality of Venice, focusing on the very infrastructure of the city and the labor involved in its creation and maintenance. Editor: Absolutely, it is as if Herbert is asking us to consider the environmental politics embedded in Venice's existence, a city constantly battling the water that both sustains and threatens it. Who has access to these spaces and who is excluded? Curator: I find myself pondering the craftsmanship evident in both the original construction of this doorway and Herbert's rendering of it. Editor: Indeed, reflecting on the precariousness of Venice, and on who holds the power to preserve its legacy is what stays with me.