Victoria Bridge 1 - 1859

Editor: This is "Victoria Bridge," a photograph taken around 1859 by William Notman, currently housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The strong perspective really draws the eye; what strikes me most is the imposing industrial construction. How do you interpret this work from a formalist lens? Curator: A sharp eye, indeed. Let us examine the formal elements. The stereoscopic format itself invites a heightened perception of depth and volume. Consider the bridge’s structure. What effect does the stark contrast between the delicate cranes and the heavy stone of the bridge create? Editor: Well, it creates a dialogue, right? The geometric precision of the tracks, versus the implied organic formlessness of the water... the hard, built forms contrasting against an infinite horizon. It is really beautiful but somewhat disquieting at the same time. Curator: Precisely. Note how the repetition of lines leads the eye into the distance. It's about surface relationships and structure rather than necessarily about representing reality. And the grayscale, the almost uniform tonality, it emphasizes the underlying architectural forms devoid of excessive details. Editor: So, the image really is more about line, shape, and form, and how these all work together than any sort of historical documentation. Curator: Indeed. Notman has effectively distilled the bridge into a powerful interplay of shapes, lines and perspective, thereby producing something truly captivating. Through the formal analysis, we perceive an evocative interplay of industrial and organic elements that moves the image into the realm of fine art. Editor: I never thought about it that way, I’m going to view pictures a lot differently going forward. Thank you.