The Rialto 1879 - 1880

Editor: This is James Abbott McNeill Whistler's etching, "The Rialto," at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so alive with the hustle and bustle of Venice. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The image vibrates with a specific cultural memory. Notice how Whistler uses the Rialto as a stage. Do you observe how the figures become almost archetypal, their forms less important than their implied actions? Editor: I see that. It’s like they’re carriers of Venetian life, not just individuals. Curator: Exactly. The Rialto wasn’t just a location; it symbolized Venice's commercial power, its global reach. Whistler captures not just a place, but a feeling. Editor: That makes me see it differently – as a symbol within a symbol.