Gezicht op de haven van Bari aan de zuidkant 1778

Editor: This is "Gezicht op de haven van Bari aan de zuidkant" – or "View of the Port of Bari on the South Side" – a drawing in ink from 1778 by Louis Ducros, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. It has this quiet, almost subdued energy to it, like a scene caught between moments. What do you make of it? Curator: This harbor scene is rich in symbolism, hinting at the ebb and flow of life. Notice how the boats, primary symbols of journeys and transitions, rest ashore. This suggests a pause, a moment of reflection. Even the buildings evoke history, continuity – but consider the figures scattered around the boats: what activities do you think they’re performing? Editor: I'd say it looks like they're going about the daily work of a port. Carrying materials perhaps, preparing boats… but I suppose those people, the light and architecture all speak to something beyond a simple depiction of work, right? Curator: Precisely! These elements speak of the cultural memory embedded in the port itself. Ports are places of exchange, immigration, and departure. Ducros has carefully staged them. The dome and the tower of the church are powerful reminders of stability, both sacred and secular, standing sentinel over the city. Does it resonate with anything in particular, in your personal experience? Editor: The way the people seem so small compared to the boats and the buildings makes me think of how we're all just temporary visitors, moving through spaces that will long outlast us. I’m seeing a kind of bittersweet acceptance in the face of time. Curator: Yes, and the colors enhance that sense. The subdued palette of browns, grays, and faded blues conveys a sense of nostalgia, inviting us to contemplate the passage of time. The image whispers of both permanence and impermanence – of lives lived, stories told, and the relentless march of history. Editor: I hadn’t considered how strongly the colors were contributing. I'm leaving this conversation with a completely different point of view of the image. Thanks! Curator: And thank you! This layering of symbolism makes experiencing art such a multi-faceted process, every visit brings with it a new dimension and new questions.