Twee gezichten op de haven van Port Arthur Possibly 1894

Here we see an image of ‘Twee gezichten op de haven van Port Arthur’ produced by the Ordnance Survey Office. The subdued palette and grainy texture evoke a sense of desolation. The composition is split into two distinct parts: the left shows a stark landscape with a sliver of sea, while the right shows a textured cliff face. The structure invites us to consider a semiotic approach. The harbor setting likely held strategic significance, yet the softened focus and somber tones seem to strip away any romanticism about war. It destabilizes the conventional narratives of valor and conquest often associated with military cartography. The work may function as a silent critique of conflict, using the guise of documentation to unveil a deeper, more unsettling view. In its stark simplicity, this image offers a poignant reflection on the costs of geopolitical ambition.