Gondolas in Venice 1909

Henri Martin created this painting of Gondolas in Venice using oil on canvas in the late 19th or early 20th century. Martin was part of the Post-Impressionist movement in France, yet there is something quintessentially Venetian about this image. Venice's unique geography, its canals and architecture, have shaped its economy and social structure for centuries. Gondolas, as seen here, are not just tourist attractions but symbols of Venetian identity and working-class labor. It is difficult to know the date this painting was made, but the late 19th century was a key moment when the city was shifting from a mercantile centre to a tourist destination. Understanding the context of this image, the economy and the social structures of Venice, would require detailed historical research and would allow us to know what this artist might have been trying to say about the city.