Venetiaanse vrouw onderweg naar de markt c. 1650 - 1740

Domenico Bonavera made this etching of a Venetian woman on her way to market sometime in the later 17th century. The image presents us with an idealized vision of Venetian life. It seems designed to celebrate the city’s vibrant economy. The woman is portrayed as healthy and prosperous, her dress clean and neat, carrying what looks like produce to be sold. But this carefully constructed image also reflects the institutional forces at play in the production of art during this period. Venice was a major center of printmaking, and prints like this one were often made for sale to tourists, who wanted to take home a souvenir of their travels. The image reinforces the perception of Venice as a place of beauty and prosperity. To truly understand such images we must turn to social and economic histories, tourist guides and other archival documents. Such research demonstrates how the meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.