Gezicht op de Sidi Mecid waterval c. 1880 - 1900

Étienne Neurdein captured this photograph of the Sidi Mecid waterfall, with its dimensions measuring 271 mm in height and 207 mm in width. The composition is strikingly vertical, emphasizing the height and cascading nature of the waterfall. The tonal range, from dark, rocky cliffs to the lighter, fluid water, creates a layered effect that draws the eye upward. Neurdein’s choice of perspective invites a semiotic interpretation: the waterfall can be read as a sign of nature’s power, an inexorable force carving its way through the stone. The image engages with the sublime, evoking awe through its display of natural grandeur. The formal elements here—the contrast between the rigid, dark rock and the flowing, bright water—function not only as aesthetic devices but also as symbols in a broader discourse about nature and representation. The photograph is a testament to the ongoing dialogue between the human observer and the natural world.