DOI article:
Kowal, Tomasz: Changes in a landscape: a case study of three postcards from Risan
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41947#0049
45
Postcard no. 1 [Fig. 2a-b]. A card of standard format, measuring 9 cm by 14 cm, sent from
Dubrovnik in 1899. The illustration on the reverse occupied just 6.3 cm by 11.5 cm, leaving space
for correspondence, enough for a short greeting and concise message.26 The name of the postcard
publisher, “Verlag von R. Nikolich in Risano”, was written in red on the left. The inscription below
the picture reads: “Gruss aus Risano” (“Greetings from Risan”). “Gruss aus” was a typical ex-
pression used on the postcards from the late nineteenth century to the beginning of twentieth
century.27 The sender of this postcard fitted the following message in the lower margin: “Puno Vas
pozdravjam Vas i Vase Roditelje. Radovan Lubotić”, which means “Many greetings to You, You
and Your Parents. Radovan Lubotić”. The date, February 19, 1899, was placed above.
The panorama of the town shown in this postcard was taken from the south side of the Gradina
hill. A stone bridge appears in the lower foreground. It spans the karst river Spila flowing from
a cave of the same name.28 The reach of the river seen in the picture is regulated, with stone terraces
and walls on either side protecting the banks from flooding. One cannot see the mouth of the river.
A low water level reveals the pillars of the bridge and the railings are also clearly visible. A human
figure can be seen at the southern end of the bridge, heading into town. Stone stairs lead down to
the river on the left of this end of the bridge. Beyond it to the right a road runs along the river,
taking a bend to the south toward the center of Risan. Further north from the bridge, in the direction
of Carine, there is a short ramp-like gravel road. A stone wall (remains of a building) with an entrance
from the north ran next to the river on the west side of the road. Two pathways and a walking trail
met at the end of the ramp. The dirt road was an extension of a stone path and led through the fields
of Carine towards the hill. Fields lined both sides of the narrow road. Two other tracks ran along the
river and intersected near the bridge. A typical multi-storey Catovica kuca house with adjacent build-
ing occupied the center of the view. The house was situated on the road leading from the stone
bridge towards the town center. A two-master anchored in the Risan port and the city center loom
in the background. The “House of the Poor” on Rte Cape, barely visible, appears in the comer of
the postcard.
Postcard no. 2 [Fig. За-b]. A card measuring 9 cm by 13.8 cm. The reverse was taken up by
a panorama of Risan against the background of the mountain range rising to the south of it, identi-
fied by the text “Рисан — Risano (Bocche di Cattaro)” placed over the tops of the mountains in
the background. The name of the postcard company was on the obverse: “Gojko Drobnjakovic
Risan”. Gojko Drobnjakovic was one of a few photographers and postcard authors who were directly
identified on postcards published in Risan.29 The postcard was sent on the 3rd of August, 1914.30
The picture was taken from the southern slope of the hill opposite Gradina, on its west side, near
a ravine which is the bed of a seasonal river Policije. The fields of Carine can be seen in the fore-
ground. Individual plots were divided by stone borders. A path crossed the fields to the north, lead-
ing from the stone bridge toward the foot of Gradina. Other roads and paths, oriented north-south,
cut through the fields of Carine. The town lay in the coastal zone in the background. A stone bridge
can be seen and a stone wall (remains of a building) with an entrance from the north. The mouth
of the Spila river is also evident, as is the Catovica kuca house with adjacent buildings. Some
downtown buildings can also be seen around the piazza and in the vicinity of the local Orthodox
church of St. Peter and Paul. The harbor lies on the sea and the hilltops between Risan and Perast
appear in the far background.
26 K.otlowsk.1 1998, p. 13; Zaucha 1992, p. 70.
27 Kotłowski 1998. pp. 20 and 25.
28 Magas 2002, pp. 69-71.
29 Musić, Ulćar 2011, p. 24.
30 The postcard was sent by a sailor embarked on a steamer,
a few days after the outbreak of World War I. The content
of the message indicates the tension among soldiers be-
cause of the start of hostilities.
Postcard no. 1 [Fig. 2a-b]. A card of standard format, measuring 9 cm by 14 cm, sent from
Dubrovnik in 1899. The illustration on the reverse occupied just 6.3 cm by 11.5 cm, leaving space
for correspondence, enough for a short greeting and concise message.26 The name of the postcard
publisher, “Verlag von R. Nikolich in Risano”, was written in red on the left. The inscription below
the picture reads: “Gruss aus Risano” (“Greetings from Risan”). “Gruss aus” was a typical ex-
pression used on the postcards from the late nineteenth century to the beginning of twentieth
century.27 The sender of this postcard fitted the following message in the lower margin: “Puno Vas
pozdravjam Vas i Vase Roditelje. Radovan Lubotić”, which means “Many greetings to You, You
and Your Parents. Radovan Lubotić”. The date, February 19, 1899, was placed above.
The panorama of the town shown in this postcard was taken from the south side of the Gradina
hill. A stone bridge appears in the lower foreground. It spans the karst river Spila flowing from
a cave of the same name.28 The reach of the river seen in the picture is regulated, with stone terraces
and walls on either side protecting the banks from flooding. One cannot see the mouth of the river.
A low water level reveals the pillars of the bridge and the railings are also clearly visible. A human
figure can be seen at the southern end of the bridge, heading into town. Stone stairs lead down to
the river on the left of this end of the bridge. Beyond it to the right a road runs along the river,
taking a bend to the south toward the center of Risan. Further north from the bridge, in the direction
of Carine, there is a short ramp-like gravel road. A stone wall (remains of a building) with an entrance
from the north ran next to the river on the west side of the road. Two pathways and a walking trail
met at the end of the ramp. The dirt road was an extension of a stone path and led through the fields
of Carine towards the hill. Fields lined both sides of the narrow road. Two other tracks ran along the
river and intersected near the bridge. A typical multi-storey Catovica kuca house with adjacent build-
ing occupied the center of the view. The house was situated on the road leading from the stone
bridge towards the town center. A two-master anchored in the Risan port and the city center loom
in the background. The “House of the Poor” on Rte Cape, barely visible, appears in the comer of
the postcard.
Postcard no. 2 [Fig. За-b]. A card measuring 9 cm by 13.8 cm. The reverse was taken up by
a panorama of Risan against the background of the mountain range rising to the south of it, identi-
fied by the text “Рисан — Risano (Bocche di Cattaro)” placed over the tops of the mountains in
the background. The name of the postcard company was on the obverse: “Gojko Drobnjakovic
Risan”. Gojko Drobnjakovic was one of a few photographers and postcard authors who were directly
identified on postcards published in Risan.29 The postcard was sent on the 3rd of August, 1914.30
The picture was taken from the southern slope of the hill opposite Gradina, on its west side, near
a ravine which is the bed of a seasonal river Policije. The fields of Carine can be seen in the fore-
ground. Individual plots were divided by stone borders. A path crossed the fields to the north, lead-
ing from the stone bridge toward the foot of Gradina. Other roads and paths, oriented north-south,
cut through the fields of Carine. The town lay in the coastal zone in the background. A stone bridge
can be seen and a stone wall (remains of a building) with an entrance from the north. The mouth
of the Spila river is also evident, as is the Catovica kuca house with adjacent buildings. Some
downtown buildings can also be seen around the piazza and in the vicinity of the local Orthodox
church of St. Peter and Paul. The harbor lies on the sea and the hilltops between Risan and Perast
appear in the far background.
26 K.otlowsk.1 1998, p. 13; Zaucha 1992, p. 70.
27 Kotłowski 1998. pp. 20 and 25.
28 Magas 2002, pp. 69-71.
29 Musić, Ulćar 2011, p. 24.
30 The postcard was sent by a sailor embarked on a steamer,
a few days after the outbreak of World War I. The content
of the message indicates the tension among soldiers be-
cause of the start of hostilities.