Gezicht op een straat in Sint-Petersburg c. 1880 - 1900

Albert Felisch's photograph captures a street in Saint Petersburg, presenting a vista that is both dynamic and rigidly structured. The sepia tones evoke a sense of historical distance, while the composition emphasizes a linear perspective, drawing the eye deep into the urban space. The photograph’s organization hinges on a play between stillness and movement. The buildings, rendered with crisp detail, create a static frame. Juxtaposed against this backdrop, the blurred figures and carriages suggest the frenetic energy of city life. This contrast invites us to consider the photograph as not just a depiction of a place but as a study in temporality. The sharpness of the architectural elements and the softness of the transient figures captures a pivotal moment between the past and future. Felisch's work prompts us to think about how photography, as a relatively new medium at the time, was being used to capture and freeze the flux of modern life. The photograph is both a record and an interpretation of the evolving urban landscape.