Venice 1896

Curator: This is "Venice," an oil painting by Denman Waldo Ross. Editor: It's evocative. The brushstrokes give it a shimmering, ethereal quality. It's pretty small, right? Curator: Yes, it's about 23 by 33 centimeters. Ross painted this scene in 1896, during a period when Venice was heavily romanticized in art and literature. He captured the city's essence, and its public image at the time. Editor: The perspective highlights Venice’s architectural grandeur, almost as a statement about power and culture, but softened by the loose brushwork. And given the city’s relationship with water, it feels like a commentary on fluidity and change. Curator: I agree. Ross's understanding of color theory also played a role, given his publications on design and artistic expression. Editor: Thinking about our contemporary understanding of Venice, it's a little sad how much the city's identity is now tied to tourism. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps this painting serves as a reminder of Venice's layered history.