Palazzo Bernardo, Venice, Italy; verso: Sketch of the Palazzo Bernardo 1889

Editor: So, this is Joseph Smith's "Palazzo Bernardo, Venice, Italy." It's quite large and rendered in watercolor. The architecture feels so ornate, but there is also a sketch on the back. What do you see in this piece, looking at it from your perspective? Curator: Smith's watercolor directs our attention to the Palazzo's physical structure and its methods of creation. Notice the emphasis on the building's facade; it exposes the labor and material investment required to construct such elaborate Venetian architecture. Editor: That’s a great point! The meticulous detail and the sketch on the back really underscore the process. Curator: Precisely! The sketch on the verso, the building materials, and the time taken contribute to its overall value, challenging the notion of art as purely aesthetic. I wonder how the cost of importing these materials affected Venetian society? Editor: It's fascinating to consider the economic impact embedded in the very fabric of the building and the artwork itself. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: My pleasure. It’s all about appreciating the layers of production.