Woningen aan de Rue de l'Eeckhout te Brugge before 1889

This photogravure, "Woningen aan de Rue de l'Eeckhout te Brugge," meaning "Houses on Eeckhout Street in Bruges," presents two brick buildings, and comes from an anonymous maker. At the time it was made, photography was used to document architecture, and printmaking allowed for the wide distribution of these images. The buildings themselves would have been the result of a great deal of brick-making, and craftsmanship in fitting the windows and roof. The building on the left has Gothic-style pointed arches, while the building on the right has straighter, more standard windows. The inscription ‘Eiken Bosch’ above the door of the building on the right may indicate a shop, which speaks to the evolving economy of Bruges. Consider the immense labor involved in extracting, shaping, and laying the bricks for these structures. Here, materials, making, and context enrich our understanding of the past, and challenge narrow definitions of fine art.