House of Representatives c. late 19th century

This stereoscopic card by J.F. Jarvis captures the House of Representatives, a space where laws are forged and the will of a nation is ostensibly represented. The space, filled with rows upon rows of desks, conveys a sense of order. But let us look closer. This order mirrors the architecture of cathedrals, where rows of pews direct the gaze and focus the mind. Here, the desks mimic those pews, each a station for individual contemplation, but also collective purpose. Like a church, it embodies a shared belief, a shared aspiration towards a civic ideal. Consider the flag, not unlike a religious icon, standing as a symbol of unity. Yet, this symbol can be twisted, used to justify conflict, just as religious icons have been throughout history. This duality is the enduring tension within symbols; they are vessels, carrying both the sacred and the profane, their meanings evolving as they are re-interpreted across time.