Gezicht op rotsformatie The Watcher in het Franconia Notch State Park before 1878

This stereoscopic image, "Gezicht op rotsformatie The Watcher in het Franconia Notch State Park," by the Bierstadt Brothers presents a striking study in contrasts. Captured through two slightly offset images, the structure of the rock formation looms large with a textural interplay of light and shadow that mimics the crags and crevices of the mountain. The image presents a semiotic paradox. The mountain itself is a sign, a natural formation unwittingly resembling a human face and inviting anthropomorphic readings. The shift in perspective between the two images destabilizes a fixed understanding of the rockface, challenging the viewer to reconsider the visual terrain of natural representation. Note how the stereoscopic effect aims to replicate human binocular vision yet ultimately fragments a singular viewing point. This fragmentation reflects a broader theme, undermining our tendency to impose stable, unified meaning on ambiguous forms, and highlights the provisional and subjective nature of perception.