Gezicht op de Tonneletbron nabij Spa 1833

Théodore Fourmois created this print called "View of the Tonnelet Fountain near Spa." During the 19th century, Spa, Belgium, was renowned as a health resort, attracting visitors seeking the curative properties of its mineral springs. Yet beyond the promise of healing waters, places like Spa also mirrored the rigid class structures of the time. Fourmois’s choice to depict ordinary people visiting the fountain asks us to consider who had access to health and leisure in this era. The image presents a tranquil scene, but it also hints at the social dynamics inherent in the landscape. The act of taking the waters, often associated with the upper classes, is here presented as a moment accessible to all. The print invites us to reflect on the complexities of health, class, and the shared human desire for well-being.