Gezicht op het stadhuis van Mons, België before 1887

Editor: This is "Gezicht op het stadhuis van Mons, België," a cityscape etching in ink on paper, created sometime before 1887. The detail is just incredible; it gives the building a strong sense of presence. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay between craft and industry. Look at the etched lines, so meticulously applied, simulating the very stones and materials used to construct this grand Hôtel de Ville. Consider, too, how printmaking democratized access to architectural imagery. Before photography became ubiquitous, etchings like these served as crucial tools for disseminating knowledge of building design and urban planning. It also points to a shift in how labor was valued. How does this etching negotiate the line between ‘high art’ and the work of artisans and builders? Editor: That's a good point. So, is the print elevating the status of the builders by immortalizing their creation, or is it merely exploiting their labour by representing it? Curator: It's both, isn't it? Consider the role of the art market then. Prints like these fueled a burgeoning industry, where images of civic pride – of labor manifest in architecture – became commodities themselves. The etching captures not just the building, but the entire social fabric intertwined with its creation and its subsequent representation. The production of the paper, the ink, the very tools used to create this print – they all contribute to its meaning. How does its materiality speak to that era of production and consumption? Editor: It's like the etching itself becomes another brick in the building, another layer of cultural significance added through its production and distribution. I hadn't considered the materials involved as actively contributing to the meaning before. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully this brings a new perspective when analyzing similar pieces in the future.