Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal te Antwerpen 1813

Joseph Hunin made this print of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal in Antwerp during the early 19th century. We see the gothic cathedral, not merely as a place of worship, but as a cultural and social institution, towering over the people and buildings that surround it. Hunin’s print offers a window into the ways that buildings can reinforce social hierarchies. Constructed over centuries, these gothic cathedrals weren't just about religious devotion; they were symbols of civic pride, economic power, and social order. The print itself is a product of its time, made when Europe's artistic institutions, like academies and museums, were developing the concept of 'art' as distinct from craft. Understanding the history of the printmaking and architecture involves delving into archives and libraries, and questioning the social dynamics that shaped both the cathedral and its representation.