Gezicht op een brug en een man in een roeiboot bij Thouars c. 1850 - 1880

This stereoscopic image of a bridge and a man in a rowboat near Thouars was created by the Nederlandsche Stereoscoop Maatschappij. The sepia tones lend a sense of timelessness, while the stereoscopic format invites us into a deeper, almost tangible space. The composition divides itself into distinct horizontal layers: the reflective water, the boat and figure, and the solid bridge in the background. Notice how the vertical lines of the bridge supports and the boat masts create a visual rhythm, a structured organization that provides a sense of stability. The man in the boat, however, introduces an element of the human scale, disrupting the architectural rigidity with his relaxed posture. One might consider this image as a study in contrasts – the static versus the mobile, the built versus the natural, and the individual versus the collective. These juxtapositions challenge any fixed interpretation, inviting us to reflect on the dynamic interplay between permanence and transience, structure and freedom.