Custom House aan Canal Street, New Orleans 1873 - 1893

This is a stereoscopic photograph of the Custom House on Canal Street in New Orleans, taken at an unknown date by an anonymous photographer. The image’s power lies in its rigid geometric arrangement and the stark tonal contrast. The building's facade presents a repetitive sequence of vertical windows and horizontal awnings, creating a grid-like structure. This is juxtaposed with the diagonal lines of the street. The composition, split into two near-identical images, plays with perception and depth, typical of stereoscopic views, inviting the viewer to construct a unified, three-dimensional image. The photograph captures a moment in the urban development of New Orleans. The Custom House stands as a symbol of order against the organic chaos of the city. The linear architecture and repetitive elements suggest the influence of industrialization, contrasting with the implicit, more fluid nature of city life. The dual image encourages us to see the city as a construct, an assemblage of distinct views that merge into a cohesive, yet always mutable, whole.