Venetië, een gondel voor het Dogepaleis en de San Marco-basiliek 1898 - 1920

This anonymous photographic print captures a gondola ride in Venice, likely from the late 19th or early 20th century. It encapsulates the rise of tourism and the commodification of culture. The image is a stereograph, meant to be viewed through a special device to create a three-dimensional effect. This was a popular form of entertainment, allowing people to experience far-off places like Venice from the comfort of their homes. The print depicts a gondola filled with tourists, being rowed past the Doge's Palace and San Marco Basilica, all symbols of Venetian history and power. The mass production and distribution of images like this had profound effects on the places they depicted. Venice became a destination defined by its picturesque qualities. To better understand this image, we might look at tourism studies, urban history, and the history of photography. Each field helps us understand the complex relationships between culture, commerce, and representation.