Grand Columns Of Havana Black And White | Wall Art

Repeating Classical Columns Across An Ornate Havana Facade

What drew me to this building in Havana was not a single architectural detail but the repetition. One enormous fluted column follows another, gradually diminishing into the distance until the facade becomes a sequence of vertical lines, carved capitals, arched openings, iron gates, and deep shadow. I photographed it tightly because I wanted the architecture itself to take over the frame.

That compressed perspective is what gives the photograph its strength. The nearest columns feel massive, while those farther along the building create a rhythm that pulls my eye through the composition. Between them are layers of decorative masonry, balustrades, ornamental carving, recessed doorways, and wrought iron. It is the kind of old Havana architecture I can spend a long time looking at, which is why this photograph sits naturally within my architectural wall art collection.

I have always loved the older architecture of Havana. There is an extraordinary mixture of scale, craftsmanship, age, texture, and weathering throughout the city, and this facade immediately caught my attention. I also discovered that the building was associated with the Bank of Nova Scotia, which gave it an unexpected Canadian connection for me. That interested me personally, but the reason I made the photograph was much simpler: those repeating columns were impossible to ignore.

Black and white strips the scene down to what matters most. The pale stone catches the light along the projecting surfaces while the entrances and ironwork fall into much deeper tones. Without color competing for attention, the fluting, carved stone, repeating arches, geometric structure, and changing scale become far more prominent. From a distance, the photograph reads almost as an architectural pattern. Move closer and the smaller details begin to reveal themselves.

I offer this photograph as a limited edition of only 10 prints. Each print is personally signed and includes a certificate of authenticity. I print with archival pigment inks on premium archival paper so the fine masonry detail, deep blacks, and subtle gray transitions remain an important part of the finished print.

I see this photograph appealing particularly to collectors drawn to Havana, Cuba, classical architecture, strong geometric compositions, and black-and-white photography. The neutral tonal range also makes it especially suited to interiors where architectural detail and structure can carry the image without relying on color, while the ornate facade connects naturally with my broader collection of building wall art.

© Dan Kosmayer, 2017