Aqua alta 

Félix Ziem captured this oil on canvas painting, Aqua alta, during his prolific career in the 19th century. Ziem, a key figure in the transition from Romanticism to Impressionism, was deeply influenced by the orientalist movement. His extensive travels to the Middle East and Venice shaped his artistic identity. In Aqua alta, Ziem presents Venice not merely as a city, but as a fluid intersection of cultures and histories. He blurs the lines between reality and imagination. The high water, or “aqua alta,” becomes a metaphor for the city's resilience and its constant negotiation with the forces of nature. The brushstrokes evoke a sense of transience, reflecting the city’s unique position as a bridge between East and West, tradition and modernity. Ziem once said, "I follow only my own feeling." He invites us to contemplate Venice's historical depth and the emotional currents that flow through its canals.