Rokin, gezien richting het zuiden, Amsterdam 1856 - 1860

This stereograph, titled "Rokin, gezien richting het zuiden, Amsterdam," was captured by Pieter Oosterhuis. It presents a visual experience dominated by the sepia tones typical of early photography. The composition is structured by the water’s horizontal plane and the vertical architecture lining the canal. Oosterhuis uses the stereograph to explore how photography can mimic and manipulate human perception. The dual images aim to replicate the depth of field seen by our eyes, yet the subtle differences between the two offer a constructed reality, rather than a mere reflection. The reflections of the buildings in the water create a semiotic interplay of presence and absence, questioning the stability of visual representation itself. Consider how the rigid architectural forms, softened by the photographic process, engage with broader ideas about urban development and representation. This artwork challenges fixed meanings, prompting an ongoing interpretation of space, perception, and reality.