Straattafereel met voorbijgangers op de Dam, Amsterdam, Nederland Possibly 1900 - 1907

This stereoscopic image of a street scene with passersby on the Dam in Amsterdam was created in the late 19th or early 20th century by Adrianus Scheltema-Beduin. The monochromatic palette gives it a timeless quality, but also flattens the space, emphasizing the composition's graphic elements. The texture of the photograph is smooth and the sepia tone adds a warm, nostalgic feel. The buildings lining the square are meticulously detailed, but the figures are more softly rendered and blurred. Check out how the light catches the edges of the buildings, creating a subtle contrast that brings the architecture to life. This photograph reminds me of the work of Eugène Atget, another chronicler of urban life, but with a slightly different focus. Atget was interested in the details of the city and the traces of human activity on its surfaces, whereas Scheltema-Beduin captures the city as a backdrop for the social interactions of its inhabitants. Both artists understood the city as a stage, a constantly evolving space of encounter and exchange.