Gezicht op de Grote Markt in Haarlem 1860 - 1885

Pieter Oosterhuis created this stereoscopic photograph of the Grote Markt in Haarlem using albumen paper. What immediately strikes you is the composition. Oosterhuis has structured the image to emphasize the geometric interplay between the buildings and the open square. The stark lines of the architecture contrast with the softer, almost blurred figures populating the space. This contrast serves as a semiotic marker, highlighting the tension between permanence and transience, structure and fluidity. Consider the use of light. It flattens the scene, reducing depth and further emphasizing the photograph’s two-dimensional quality. The albumen print renders the scene in sepia tones, stripping away the distractions of color and distilling the scene to its essential forms. The photograph thereby invites a contemplation on the very nature of representation itself. It is not merely a record, but an interpretation. As you observe how the artist plays with these formal elements, you’ll see how this photograph doesn't just depict a place, but engages with broader questions about space, time, and perception.