View of Canal with Gondola 19th-20th century

Editor: Here we have Denman Waldo Ross's "View of Canal with Gondola," an oil painting located at the Harvard Art Museums. The colors are so soft, almost like a faded postcard. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating how Venice became such a popular subject for artists, solidifying its image as a romantic destination. Ross's painting continues that tradition. What do you think about the public perception and the artist's role in shaping how we see a city? Editor: That's a really good point. The way he painted it influences how we see Venice. Curator: Exactly! The very act of selecting this view, with its gondola and picturesque bridge, reinforces certain narratives about Venice. Perhaps we should consider whose Venice is being represented. Editor: I never thought about it that way. I'll definitely look at landscape paintings with a more critical eye now.