Twee details van het magazijn van het stationsgebouw van Doornik, België before 1893

Römmler & Jonas made this print of warehouse details from the train station in Doornik, Belgium using an etching technique. The image presents itself as a factual record of architectural features, but it also speaks volumes about the social and economic context of its time. Consider the late 19th century, when railway stations became symbols of progress and connectivity. They facilitated trade, travel, and the movement of people and goods across borders. The image underscores the importance of infrastructure in supporting economic growth and imperial expansion. The railway station was a key node in this network, and its design reflected both the functional requirements of transportation and the aspirations of the society that built it. We can ask: who benefited from this infrastructure? Whose labor was involved in its construction and operation? And how did it shape the social and political landscape of the region? To understand this image fully, we might consult historical archives, engineering drawings, and period accounts. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is produced and received.