Le caïque 1880 - 1890

Félix Ziem completed this oil on canvas painting, titled ‘Le caïque’, at some unknown time in the 19th century. Here, Ziem paints a boat filled with revelers with loose brushstrokes that capture the light on the water. ‘Le caïque’ evokes the traditions of Venice, where Ziem spent much of his time. The caïque itself was a light skiff used in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Ottoman Empire. It had symbolic associations of leisurely travel and refined society. Ziem uses a muted palette to create a dreamy atmosphere. His paintings offered nostalgic visions of the region’s storied past that were consumed by European elites, who romanticized Venetian culture as one of leisure and luxury. By researching the networks of patronage that Ziem cultivated, and reading accounts of his travels in contemporary journals, we can understand how Venice was evolving as a site for international tourism and the development of a global art market.