Boats, Venice 1903

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor painting of boats in Venice in the late 19th or early 20th century. Sargent, an American expatriate artist, was known for his society portraits, but he also painted landscapes and scenes of everyday life. Here, the focus is on the working boats of Venice, not its palaces. The painting captures the city's unique atmosphere and its dependence on watercraft for transportation and trade. Venice, at this time, was a popular destination for artists and writers, attracted by its beauty and history. The rise of tourism shaped the types of art that were created and sold there. Art historians can use sources like letters, diaries, and exhibition reviews to understand how Venice was perceived and represented during Sargent's time. The meaning of art is never fixed; it changes as society and its institutions change.