Venice_ Riva degli Schiavoni (with Carlo Naya’s studio in the left foreground) c. 1865 - 1875

Carlo Naya made this drawing of the Riva degli Schiavoni in Venice using pen and brown ink with gray wash over pencil. Ink and wash might seem like simple materials, but consider their social context. Naya was a photographer, not just a landscape artist. In this sketch, the pencil underdrawing provides structure, while the pen captures the fine architectural details of Venice. But it’s the wash that gives the scene its atmosphere, like a faded memory brought to life. The drawing is an act of translation. Photography was already well established at this time, so why make an ink drawing of the scene? Naya has chosen to render the scene in a way that highlights Venice as a romantic, historical place. Ultimately, by layering these materials, Naya bridges the gap between the precision of photography and the subjective, personal touch of drawing, questioning the boundaries between different forms of representation.