Interieur van de Sint-Pauluskerk in Antwerpen 1866 - 1870

Jules Hippolyte Quéval captured this image of the Sint-Pauluskerk in Antwerp using stereoscopic photography. The photograph's composition draws our eye into the depths of the church. It is a play of light and shadow across the architectural forms. Note how Quéval's strategic use of linear perspective creates a sense of endless space. The arches and columns rhythmically recede, guiding our gaze towards the vanishing point. The stereoscopic effect enhances this depth, almost inviting us to step into the scene. Yet, this illusion of depth is challenged by the photograph's surface. The texture of the photographic print reminds us of its material reality as an object, disrupting any seamless immersion into the depicted space. The photograph thus exists in a liminal space between representation and abstraction. It is a negotiation between the objective capture of reality and the subjective experience of space. This tension reflects broader philosophical questions about perception and representation that continue to resonate today.