Peperbrug en Montelbaanstoren, Amsterdam 1858

Charles-Henri Plaut captured this stereoscopic photograph of the Peperbrug and Montelbaanstoren in Amsterdam sometime between 1850 and 1870. Plaut, who lived between 1819 and 1870, would have been aware of the cultural shifts of burgeoning industrialization and its effects on Amsterdam's landscape. In the mid-19th century, photography was also evolving as a medium, navigating its relationship to art, documentation, and commerce. The photograph depicts the tower and bridge in a moment of relative calm. Yet, the site is far from neutral. As the city grew, the tower became a symbol of Amsterdam's evolving identity. Built originally as a defense structure, by the 19th century it was more of a landmark. The bridge also marks a site of transition, connecting different parts of the city and facilitating trade and movement. Plaut's photograph exists as a relic, capturing a specific moment in time, and hints at the stories of progress, change, and cultural identity interwoven in the urban landscape.