Victor Emmanuel II Entering Venice, 7 November 1866 1866

Gerolamo Induno created this painting, *Victor Emmanuel II Entering Venice, 7 November 1866*, using oil paints on canvas. The real subject of the painting isn’t just the King of Italy’s triumphant arrival, but the spectacle itself. The flag-waving crowds, the ornate architecture, and the gilded barge – all these elements were very carefully arranged and staged for maximum impact. The painting mimics this, with layers of colors and textures that guide our eye through the scene. Consider the sheer labor that went into this moment: the construction of the barge, the weaving of the fabrics, and the tailoring of the clothes, not to mention the planning and execution of the event itself. Induno’s painting reduces all of this to a surface, celebrating the unification of Italy without necessarily acknowledging the labor and resources that made it possible. Ultimately, the painting asks us to consider the relationship between these grand historical moments and the material conditions that underpin them.