Gezicht op het San Marcoplein in Venetië, in de verte de basiliek van San Marco en de Campanile van Venetië 1889 - 1893

Curator: Looking at this gelatin silver print from around 1889 to 1893, entitled "View of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, in the distance the Basilica di San Marco and the Campanile of Venice," one senses a certain romanticism, wouldn't you say? Editor: Romantic, yes, but tinged with such a delicate melancholy. It's almost as if Venice itself is fading before our eyes, a memory caught in silver. It’s so subtle; you almost miss the figures dotting the square. Curator: Precisely. Consider the social and political climate of the late 19th century; the decline of Venice as a major power, the rise of industrialization threatening traditional ways of life... Piek's lens seems to capture that feeling of nostalgia and perhaps even anxiety. Editor: The monochrome tones amplify that sensation, a world bleached of color. Makes you wonder what it felt like to be there, though. Imagine those shadowy figures and that colossal bell tower rising in the distance, they seemed to exist in another world altogether. Curator: And it’s interesting to examine the octagonal shape of the image itself. What statement is Piek attempting to make by cropping the scene within those boundaries? Editor: Well, perhaps it acts as a sort of lens. It’s as if she wants us to see Venice from an alternative point of view. Personally, the shape makes the piece feel precious, like looking through a jeweled spyglass. You know? Curator: Perhaps. I believe it is impossible to disassociate the photography from its history: photography at this time had very close links with architectural journals, tourism, and cultural preservation projects. The perspective is quite sharp, capturing a wealth of details about St. Marks square. Editor: Mmh. Ultimately, Piek manages to preserve Venice at a pivotal moment. Seeing it now, it reminds you of the ever-changing human narrative contained in our histories, somehow, we each long to express an aspect of our cultural lives. Curator: Indeed, capturing Venice through the emerging medium of photography offered both an objective record and a subjective interpretation. Editor: Beautifully articulated. Makes me wish I could step right into the photograph myself.