Straatgezicht te Luzern before 1895

This photograph, "Straatgezicht te Luzern," was captured by Giorgio Sommer in the late 19th century. The composition is dominated by the architecture of Lucerne, Switzerland, with a large hotel anchoring the left side of the frame. The visual organization relies on a receding perspective, drawing the eye down the street towards the spires of a distant church. The facade of the hotel, with its repetitive windows and ornate balconies, establishes a rhythm that is counterpointed by the organic forms of the trees lining the street. Sommer uses light and shadow to articulate the architectural details, creating a textured surface that invites closer inspection. This attention to detail and the emphasis on the structural elements of the cityscape reveal a formalist approach, where the subject matter is less about narrative and more about the interplay of form and light. The photograph can be read as a study in architectural structure, emphasizing the visual experience of space and form.