Gezicht op Alexisbad in de Harz 1868 - 1890

This stereoscopic photograph presents a view of Alexisbad in the Harz region, captured by Hermann Selle. At first glance, the image reveals an ordered settlement nestled amidst a thick, natural landscape. The architecture, with its clean lines and uniform structures, speaks of rationality and control. This is sharply contrasted by the surrounding forest, an embodiment of the wild, untamed forces of nature. The arrangement evokes the age-old motif of contrasting civilization and the wilderness, a theme that stretches back to the earliest myths and finds recurring expression in art and literature. It reminds me of the ancient Greek concept of "Temenos", a sacred, ordered space set apart from the chaos of the outside world. The settlement represents humanity's attempt to impose order on nature. Yet the dense forest looms, a potent reminder of nature's enduring presence and power. This juxtaposition is not merely visual; it stirs a psychological tension, echoing our constant negotiation between control and surrender, rationality and instinct.