Stadhuis en koffiehuis De Draak aan de Grote Markt te Bergen op Zoom 1882 - 1900

This is a photograph by Jannis Jacobus van Melle, showing the Stadhuis en koffiehuis De Draak aan de Grote Markt te Bergen op Zoom. The print captivates with its study of light and shadow, creating a tonal landscape in warm sepia tones. Notice how the buildings frame the composition, each structure rendered with a sharp precision, almost architectural in its detail. The cobblestone ground leads the eye into the scene, its texture providing a counterpoint to the smooth surfaces of the buildings. The photograph's composition invites a structuralist reading, breaking down the town square into its basic elements. The buildings, the square, the sky—each component functions as a signifier within a larger system. This image prompts a reconsideration of urban space. The artist's focus on form over content underscores the photograph's engagement with structuralism. It suggests that the image is not merely a representation of a place, but a study in the relationships between its constituent parts.