Gezicht op het Antlers Hotel te Colorado Springs before 1893

Curator: Before us, we have a photogravure entitled "Gezicht op het Antlers Hotel te Colorado Springs," an older photographic print made before 1893 by an anonymous artist. The picture showcases several views of this grand hotel in a somewhat promotional fashion. What catches your eye? Editor: The architectural details grab my attention right away. Look at how the light and shadow interplay on the facade of the main building! There’s a careful construction of planes here that really gives depth, even in this flat image. It's so crisp and meticulously structured; it evokes a sense of solidity and permanence. Curator: Indeed. Notice how the hotel becomes a symbol of progress and civilization amidst the raw Colorado landscape. It’s not merely a building but a testament to ambition. The hotel is repeated four times here; it certainly speaks to how people attached profound meaning and aspirations to new landmarks. Editor: Absolutely! Semiotically speaking, this building operates as a signifier. Consider the relationship of form and function and how, ultimately, this visual object becomes a metaphor for Colorado Springs as a new center. It signifies not only lodging, but a beacon of the growing American West, perhaps? Curator: Yes, it's about manifesting dominance over the western frontier. Think of the guests arriving, projecting their own narratives of exploration and self-discovery onto its halls. Even the meticulously arranged interior view down below, suggesting orderly civilization and prosperity. These pictures work together to show us that the building had become an icon almost immediately after completion. Editor: It certainly invites you to construct and explore. In terms of compositional elements, there is a narrative hierarchy created via scale—and each visual object guides you around the layout of this advertisement. Each picture is another narrative building block. Curator: Exactly, the anonymous hand behind the camera sought to instill feelings of arrival, opportunity, and transformation in its potential guests, who may well have read these sentiments on viewing this artifact. Editor: The effect works well; it feels well-constructed even by today’s standards. I certainly gleaned insights simply through my analysis of composition. Curator: And I through a close reading of its symbolism; thank you!