Gezicht op een vaart met een tol, Nederland 1887 - 1888

This photograph, "Gezicht op een vaart met een tol, Nederland," was taken by Marinus Pieter Filbri. The cyanotype, with its distinctive blue monochrome, presents a tranquil Dutch canal scene. The composition is structured around the horizontal emphasis of the canal, which bisects the image, creating a mirroring effect of the buildings and sky. The buildings on the right and left bank provide a sense of spatial depth, subtly enhanced by the diminishing scale of the structures and the bare trees lining the canal. The overall effect is one of serene stillness, perhaps reflecting a broader cultural theme of the Dutch landscape as a symbol of peace and prosperity. The limited tonal range reduces the scene to its basic forms, inviting contemplation on the interplay of light and shadow, surface and depth. This photograph transforms a mundane scene into a study of space and structure.