Copenhagen, Denmark, the metropolis of all Scandinavia 1850 - 1919

This stereograph, ‘Copenhagen, Denmark, the metropolis of all Scandinavia’ was produced by Underwood & Underwood. The composition is dominated by horizontal lines of the canal and quays, which create a sense of depth, drawing the eye towards the indistinct horizon. The structures are organized in a way that the geometrical composition, a grid-like arrangement, shows an ordered urban landscape. The sepia tone flattens the image, reducing contrasts and emphasizing texture. The light seems evenly distributed, lacking strong shadows which further contributes to its formal structure. Semiotically, this image operates as an assertion of urban progress and order. The high vantage point allows the viewer to survey and ‘know’ the city at a glance, which was a common trope in 19th-century urban photography to project an image of control. Underwood & Underwood were not just photographers but also publishers, suggesting that their aesthetic choices reflect broader ideological goals of promoting modernity. The formal qualities such as composition and tonal range become tools not just for aesthetic effect but also to participate in a discourse about urban space. This discourse invites viewers to participate in the cultural and philosophical understanding of an ever changing world.