Gezicht op de Teen Darwaza, een poort in Ahmedabad before 1866

This print by Thomas Biggs captures the Teen Darwaza in Ahmedabad. At first glance, the symmetrical layout draws you in, with the gate centrally positioned, offering a balanced, almost classical composition. The play of light and shadow enhances the depth, emphasizing the gate's architectural details and inviting us to explore its form. Biggs uses the camera to present not just a structure, but a statement about space and perspective. The choice of black and white adds a timeless quality, stripping away color to focus purely on form and texture. The lines of the buildings converge, directing the viewer's gaze and creating a sense of depth that plays with our perception. Consider how the structure is framed—it's a deliberate act that invites us to reflect on the cultural codes embedded in this architectural subject. It challenges our understanding of simple representation, suggesting that even in photography, perspective is a construct, a carefully arranged set of signs. What does it reveal about the relationship between the photographer, the subject, and us, the observers?