Hotel de ville, Brussels before 1866

This is a photograph of the Hotel de Ville in Brussels, made by Cundall & Fleming as part of a book called "Flemish Relics" in the mid-19th century. It is a photogravure, a process that uses photography to create an etched plate, which is then inked and printed. The book itself—as a curated collection of "relics"—speaks to the growing sense of nationalism in Belgium at this time and the desire to preserve and celebrate its unique architectural heritage. Belgium had only gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1830. It’s clear in this image that civic structures like the Hotel de Ville were crucial symbols of this new national identity. The photograph presents the building as an object of beauty and grandeur. Understanding this image fully requires us to delve into the history of both photography and Belgian nationalism and the ways in which institutions like publishing houses shaped national identity through visual culture.