Exterieur van het gebouw op Boulevard Central 105A te Brussel 1875

This photograph of Boulevard Central 105A in Brussels was taken around 1875 by Alexandre de Blochouse. It's made through a process that would have been cutting edge for the time: silver salts, light exposure, chemical development. The tonal range achieved, from bright highlights to deep shadows, gives the image its distinctive character. This wouldn't have been possible without the industrial production of photographic materials. The architecture itself speaks of the period's aspirations, with its classical detailing rendered in then-modern materials like plate glass and cast iron. Consider the amount of labor involved in the building's construction – quarrying stone, shaping it, transporting it – all essential to the photographer's vision. Photography in this context becomes more than just an art form; it's a record of industrial capacity, social progress, and a specific moment in time. It bridges the gap between artistic vision and the material conditions that made it all possible.