Gezicht op het gildehuis te Ieper before 1900

Jean Malvaux made this photograph of the Guildhouse in Ypres, Belgium, sometime before 1906. It was published in a photographic review called "L'Objectif." This publication tells us something about the social and cultural role of photography at the time. Professional guilds were associations of craftsmen or merchants who organized to protect their economic interests and maintain standards of quality. Their buildings were often symbols of civic pride and power. This image suggests a self-conscious effort to document and preserve the architectural heritage of Ypres and other cities in Belgium. As an art historian, I might want to research the history of heritage preservation movements in Europe during this period. It would also be interesting to look at the role of photography in shaping ideas about national identity and cultural memory in Belgium and beyond.