[Civil War View] 1860s

Thomas C. Roche made this photograph titled [Civil War View] using an albumen silver print. The buildings and canal are depicted in muted sepia tones with a long exposure that blurs the water’s surface. This technique creates a visual sense of depth, drawing the eye from the foreground's rough textures to the smooth reflections in the canal, and further on to the ruined building at the back. Roche’s work intersects historical documentation with artistic composition. The strategic arrangement of industrial structures and the deliberate capture of light and shadow reveal a formal structure. By depicting the industrial landscape in a state of both creation and devastation, the photograph destabilizes the established notions of progress. The buildings symbolize growth, while the bombed out building represents destruction. Roche’s photograph functions as a visual signifier of broader cultural and philosophical tensions present during the Civil War era. It challenges the viewer to consider the complex interplay between industrial advancement and the human cost of conflict.