Gezicht op de High School in Dundee before 1890

This photogravure, titled "Gezicht op de High School in Dundee" by Valentine & Sons, presents a striking study in contrasts and composition. The image, set within a carefully ruled frame, captures the High School in a muted palette of greys, blacks, and whites. The building is shot in a classical style, with strong architectural lines. The verticality of the school is anchored by strong horizontal lines that emphasizes the façade, creating a sense of formality and order. This order is disrupted though, by the tree in front of the school building which creates a contrast. The photogravure engages with semiotic systems, presenting the High School not just as a building, but as a signifier of education and societal structure. It challenges a fixed interpretation, encouraging us to consider the interplay between form and function, representation and reality. Through its careful composition, the image captures a moment in time, inviting continuous interpretation.