Old Butter Market, Bruges c. 20th century

Editor: This is Herman Armour Webster's "Old Butter Market, Bruges." It's so detailed, almost dreamlike. What feelings or ideas does this print evoke for you? Curator: The archway, recurring, framing not only the street but also perhaps a moment in time, a memory... Do you see how the figure is placed within the arch? Editor: Yes, it's like she's stepping out of the past. Curator: Exactly. The market, a place of trade, but also exchange of ideas, of daily life, framed by enduring architecture. What do you suppose that tension means? Editor: I guess it highlights how daily life continues amidst historical structures, memory embodied. Thanks, I see it differently now. Curator: Indeed, symbols layering meaning—a potent way to capture the soul of a place.