Gezicht op Antwerpen vanaf het water before 1895

This photogravure of Antwerp, by C. Angerer & Göschl, captures a waterside view with remarkable precision. It’s printed onto the pages of a book – a traditional format that speaks to the democratisation of knowledge and image production. Photogravure itself is a fascinating process. It bridges photography and printmaking, using a copper plate etched with a photographic image. Ink is applied, then wiped away, leaving it only in the etched recesses. When paper is pressed against the plate, a rich, detailed image emerges. The tonal range achieved through this method lends the image depth, and the architectural details of Antwerp come to life. This combination of industrial and craft processes, facilitated the mass production of images like this. The very existence of this view depends on a complex interplay of manual skill and mechanical reproduction. That intersection is a perfect example of how the Industrial Revolution transformed the possibilities of art. This convergence challenges our conventional idea of artmaking, reminding us of the intimate relationship between labor, technology, and aesthetics.