The Piazzetta c. 1879 - 1880

Curator: Here we have James Abbott McNeill Whistler's etching, "The Piazzetta," housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels incredibly fragile, almost a fleeting glimpse of a place rather than a solid representation. Curator: Whistler's focus was less on perfect topographical accuracy and more on capturing the atmosphere and the bustling life of Venice. Consider the materiality—the careful etching lines, the plate tone creating depth. Editor: Yes, and how the print would have circulated—a relatively accessible artwork depicting a major European center. How many people could afford to travel there versus own an image of it? Curator: Exactly. And think about the labour involved in producing these prints, distributed widely, contributing to the visual culture of the time. It definitely makes me see Venice as more accessible than I had initially imagined. Editor: I agree. It underscores the power of reproducible art in shaping our perceptions of place and culture.