Gezicht over de Neva in Sint-Petersburg, met schepen langs de kade c. 1850 - 1880

This stereo card shows a view over the Neva in St. Petersburg, captured by Albert Felisch. The composition unfolds with a striking emphasis on linear elements. The vertical masts of the ships create a forest of lines that dominate the middle ground, drawing the eye upward, while the horizontal quayside offers a grounding base. The sepia tones lend a sense of nostalgia, but also reduce the scene to a study in light and shadow. The textures are richly articulated, from the rough-hewn stones of the quay to the billowing sails in the distance. The use of the stereo card format itself plays with perception, creating an illusion of depth that invites us into the scene. Felisch's work here is not just a depiction of a place, but an exploration of form and perspective, inviting viewers to consider the interplay between the industrial and the picturesque in the 19th-century cityscape.