Gezicht op Main Street en het stadhuis in Port Elizabeth 1901

This stereo card, made by Underwood & Underwood, shows a street view with a sepia tone that feels both nostalgic and immediate. The repetitive nature of the buildings and figures almost mimics the act of mark-making itself. I am drawn to the way the sunlight rakes across the street, casting long shadows that stretch and distort. These shadows, like expressive brushstrokes, add depth and a sense of drama to the scene. The texture of the street, rendered in grainy detail, feels almost palpable. I can practically feel the roughness under my feet. It feels like a memory; a fleeting moment captured in amber. This card, with its formal rigor and slightly off-kilter perspective, reminds me a little of some of the early street photography of Eugène Atget. Both artists share a fascination with the everyday and a knack for finding beauty in the mundane. Like all good art, it embraces the possibility of infinite interpretation, leaving us with more questions than answers.