Interieur van de Sint-Paulus buiten de Muren te Rome, Italië 1865 - 1878

This albumen print captures the interior of the Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, rendered by Gioacchino Altobelli during the 19th century. The photograph presents a symmetrical composition, defined by receding lines of columns that visually guide the observer towards the apse. Altobelli employs linear perspective to underscore the basilica's profound depth, using the repetitive architectural elements to instill a sense of infinity. The photograph's gray scale lends the scene a timeless quality, as light and shadow delineate the textures of marble, stone, and mosaic. The formal structure invites contemplation on spatial representation and its semiotic function within the visual arts. This image, while seemingly a straightforward depiction of space, destabilizes the conventional understanding of architectural photography by prompting reflection on the constructed nature of perspective and the complex interplay between representation and reality.