Byzantine Palace, Venice 1883

Joseph Pennell created this etching of a Venetian palace, capturing its reflection on the water's surface. Venice, a city built on water, is laden with symbols. Its palaces, like the one depicted here, are not merely dwellings but emblems of power and cultural memory. The gondola, gliding along the canal, is more than just a mode of transport; it is a carrier of stories. Think of Charon's boat ferrying souls across the river Styx, or the barque of Ra sailing through the Egyptian underworld. The gondola, too, moves between worlds: the world of the living and the dreamlike reflections in the water. The arches and windows of the palace echo across centuries, harking back to Roman triumphal arches and Byzantine gateways, each a portal to another realm. They are openings through which we glimpse not only the physical space of Venice but also the depths of human history and collective imagination. They evoke a longing for something beyond our immediate grasp, a connection to the past that lingers in the subconscious. The palace is more than bricks and mortar; it is a vessel of shared history, a testament to how symbols resurface, evolve, and resonate through time.