Rotspartij, bekend als de 'Heuscheunenrücke', in de Harz 1866 - 1870

Here we see a vintage print of ‘Rotspartij, bekend als de 'Heuscheunenrücke', in de Harz' by Hermann Selle. The sepia tones lend the piece a sense of nostalgia. The composition is structured around a central archway, a traditional motif. Selle uses a stereoscopic technique to capture a bustling Italian scene, filled with vendors, pedestrians, and architectural facades. The visual language employed here is interesting. The symmetry created by the stereoscopic effect not only adds depth but also underscores the formal structure. The details, though somewhat obscured by the medium, are rendered to capture the textures of the stone buildings and the vitality of the market square. What we might consider here is the way Selle engages with the idea of representation. In this seemingly simple street view, there are layers of historical and cultural encoding. The symmetry of the scene is disrupted by the activities of the figures within the image, which challenges fixed meanings or engage with new ways of thinking about space. The image is not merely a representation of a place; it is an engagement with the act of seeing itself.