Gezicht op gondels in de lagune van Venetië, in de verte rechts de Santa Maria della Presentazione en links de kerk van San Giorgio Maggiore 1889 - 1893

Johanna Margaretha Piek made this photograph of gondolas in Venice sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The image presents a romantic view of Venice, a city that had long captured the imaginations of artists and tourists alike. Venice was a popular subject for artists, and photography offered a new way to capture its unique atmosphere. The gondolas, iconic symbols of Venice, are prominently featured, evoking a sense of timelessness and tradition. In the background, the churches of Santa Maria della Presentazione and San Giorgio Maggiore speak to Venice's rich religious and cultural history. Consider how this image contributes to the construction of Venice as a tourist destination. What social and economic forces were at play in shaping this romanticized view? What aspects of Venetian life are left out of this picture? Such questions can be explored through archival research, studies of tourism, and analyses of other visual representations of Venice from the same period.