Fotoreproductie van Rampe de Rotterdam door Paul Jean Clays before 1893

Alexandre created this photogravure of Paul Jean Clays' "Rampe de Rotterdam" at an unknown date. The sepia tones and soft focus give the scene a dreamlike, almost ethereal quality. The eye is drawn to the delicate interplay of light and shadow across the water, evoking a sense of calm and quietude. Consider the formal structure: the composition balances the vertical masts of the ships against the horizontal expanse of water and sky. This arrangement creates a visual tension, a dynamic equilibrium between stasis and movement. How do these formal elements relate to the semiotic significance? The ship acts as a signifier for voyages and commerce. Yet, by rendering the scene in a hazy, indistinct manner, the artist undermines any fixed meaning. The photogravure technique itself is crucial. The soft, tonal gradations create a sense of atmospheric perspective, pushing the background into an indefinite space. It invites us to reflect on the way art constructs rather than merely represents reality.