Gezicht op een koepel bij het Kankariameer in Ahmedabad before 1866

This is a photograph by Thomas Biggs titled ‘Gezicht op een koepel bij het Kankariameer in Ahmedabad’. The sepia tones and the orientation immediately evoke a sense of historical distance. Biggs captures an architectural structure with a clear emphasis on form and texture. The composition directs our gaze towards the dome, accentuating its shape and the intricate details of the stonework. The surrounding landscape is rendered with a similar attention to texture, creating a cohesive visual field. This reflects a formalist approach, where the intrinsic qualities of the subject matter and its material representation take precedence. Biggs’s strategic use of light and shadow enhances the three-dimensionality of the architectural structure. This method aligns with a structuralist approach, emphasizing the underlying organization of forms and their relationship within the photograph’s frame. The photograph becomes a study of space and form, capturing the cultural and historical context of the dome through its visual presentation.