Voorbijgangers en paardentrams op de Dam met het beeld 'De Eendracht', beter bekend als 'Naatje van de Dam' (in de steigers), Amsterdam, Nederland 1898

This photographic print by Adrianus Scheltema-Beduin captures a bustling Amsterdam scene. The monochromatic sepia tones give the image a texture reminiscent of a faded memory, invoking a sense of nostalgia. The composition is anchored by the convergence of lines – cobblestones, tram tracks, and architectural facades – all directing the eye towards the statue under scaffolding. This visual strategy emphasizes the monument as a locus of activity, a center around which the city's movements coalesce. The repetition of forms – the rhythm of pedestrians, the parallel lines of the horse trams, the architectural columns – creates a sense of order amidst the urban hustle. The scaffolding, while ostensibly a temporary addition, becomes an integral part of the photograph’s semiotic structure. It suggests not just construction but deconstruction, an unveiling, reflecting perhaps a society in flux, constantly rebuilding its identity. The photograph functions as a moment frozen in time, inviting the viewer to contemplate the interplay between permanence and transience, between the monument and the ever-changing city around it.