Uitzicht op de lagune van Venetië, in de verte de kerk van San Giorgio Maggiore 1889 - 1893

This is a small photograph by Johanna Margaretha Piek, capturing a distant view of the San Giorgio Maggiore church across the Venetian lagoon. Piek, born in 1870, lived during a time of shifting social roles for women, and she navigated the art world with a unique perspective. The sepia tones and the soft focus lend a timeless quality to the scene, yet this was also an era defined by industrialization, as we see with the steam boat in the image. This tension between tradition and modernity is palpable. Venice, a city steeped in history, becomes a stage where Piek explores themes of identity and place. What does it mean to look at the world through a woman’s eyes during this period of great change? Here, the lagoon isn't merely a backdrop, but a space of reflection, mirroring the artist's own internal landscape. Piek invites us to consider how our personal histories shape our perceptions, and how the past informs our present.