Gezicht op een trap in het huis van Edouard van den Corput in Brussel, België before 1898

This photograph offers a glimpse into the Brussels home of Edouard van den Corput. Though the exact date is unknown, the image captures more than just a staircase; it speaks to the identities and social positions of those who inhabited and moved through this space. Consider the architecture: the height of the ceilings, the ornate detailing, the checkerboard floors, and the implication of domestic staff needed to maintain such a space. What does it say about wealth, class, and power? Architectural photography like this often served to document and celebrate the achievements of the upper class, reinforcing existing social hierarchies. The image isn't merely a neutral record; it is a construction, carefully framing a particular narrative of success and refinement. Reflect on who is missing from this picture, and the labor that keeps this house running. It prompts us to question the stories that aren't immediately visible.