Brug op een schip te Cherbourg 1862 - 1876

Jean Andrieu created this photograph titled "Brug op een schip te Cherbourg," or "Bridge on a ship in Cherbourg". The photograph presents a detailed view of a ship's deck. The composition is structured by the strong vertical lines of the masts and rigging, which converge towards the top of the frame. The deck itself is organized with rows of cannons, adding a sense of depth and perspective. Andrieu uses the formal elements of line and form to evoke the technological advancements of maritime travel. The materiality of the ship is rendered in intricate detail, emphasizing the texture of the wood, the tautness of the ropes, and the metallic surfaces of the cannons. This photograph can be interpreted through the lens of structuralism, where the ship's components—masts, rigging, cannons—act as signs within a larger system. The ship as a whole becomes a symbol of technological progress, naval power, and exploration.