Hoofdweg van Tanjong Pagar in Singapore met voorbijgangers, karren en reclameborden voor de krant 'The Straits Times' before 1905

This striking view of the Hoofdweg van Tanjong Pagar in Singapore was captured by G.R. Lambert & Co. I can only imagine what it might have been like to stand there, a witness to the everyday bustle of late 19th-century Singapore. In the photograph, the road stretches into the distance, lined with buildings and bustling with figures. The composition, the way the space is organized, creates a sense of depth, drawing you into the scene. It's like a stage where life unfolds. The monochrome palette gives everything a nostalgic quality, but also emphasizes the textures – the rough surfaces of the road, the dense foliage, the solid structures of the buildings. The artist's attention to detail is amazing. Painters owe a lot to photography, which changed our way of seeing forever. This photograph, with its balance of clarity and atmosphere, is like a painting come to life.