Binnengasthuis, gezien vanaf de Grimburgwal, Amsterdam 1859

Pieter Oosterhuis captured this stereograph of the Binnengasthuis from the Grimburgwal in Amsterdam, using photography. The composition is dominated by the symmetrical arrangement of buildings and bridges mirrored across the canal. This mirroring effect creates a visual doubling, challenging our perception of space and reality. Oosterhuis uses the stereograph format not just to document but to play with depth and perspective, creating a heightened sense of dimensionality. The sepia tones lend a timeless quality, while the precise lines of the architecture contrast with the fluid reflections in the water. This contrast is more than aesthetic; it’s a semiotic play between stability and flux, order and chaos. The very act of photographing a reflection suggests a questioning of what is real versus what is merely perceived. Ultimately, Oosterhuis' choice to capture this scene in a stereograph invites us to consider how the structure of an image shapes our understanding, encouraging us to look beyond the surface.