Façade van de oude jezuïtenkerk van Sint-Carolus Borromeus in Antwerpen 1866 - 1870

Jules Hippolyte Quéval made this photographic print of the façade of the old Jesuit church of Saint Charles Borromeo in Antwerp. This image forms part of a series called "Picturesque and Monumental Belgium", and can be seen to reflect the nineteenth-century interest in cataloging and documenting historical and architectural landmarks, in this case of Belgium. Antwerp was, by this time, a well-established urban centre with a rich history. The church itself, a significant example of Baroque architecture, held a prominent place in the city's religious and social landscape. The church, dedicated to Charles Borromeo, was a powerful symbol of the Catholic Counter-Reformation in the region. The photograph's creation reflects the institutional and cultural values of its time, particularly in the documentation and preservation of historical landmarks. The study of photographic prints like this one relies on historical research to understand the artwork's position in the history of Belgian cultural institutions and civic society.