Gezicht op Town House in High Street te Dundee before 1890

This is a photograph of the Town House in High Street, Dundee, created by Valentine & Sons. The immediate impression is one of a very solid and formally organized structure. The building is captured in monochrome, accentuating its geometric clarity: a rectangular base sharply defined, supporting a pediment, and crowned by a slender, soaring steeple. The visual elements are arranged to convey stability, but the vertical thrust of the steeple introduces a dynamic tension, disrupting the otherwise horizontal dominance. One cannot ignore the play of light and shadow which models the architectural forms, lending depth and texture to the stone façade. This interplay is less about pure aesthetics and more about the structure itself, emphasizing its role as a symbol of civic authority. Consider how the photograph engages with semiotics. The town house stands as a signifier of order, law, and governance, subtly challenging fixed notions of power by presenting it in such a visually accessible form. It invites an ongoing dialogue about the relationship between architecture, society, and meaning.