Stadhuis en de Grote Markt in Brussel 1860 - 1900

Editor: This is "Stadhuis en de Grote Markt in Brussel" – or Brussels' Town Hall and Grand Square– a photograph printed sometime between 1860 and 1900 by Étienne Neurdein. It's incredibly detailed. I find it romantic in a way – even with the soft sepia tones. What strikes you about this albumen print? Curator: What strikes me? Hmmm... I'm swept away to another time. You know, a time before selfies, before filters, before we could instantly capture the world with a tap. The way the light drapes over those buildings, it’s like capturing the very essence of memory, wouldn't you say? I see not just a building but a silent poem etched in light and shadow. Editor: A silent poem, I like that! What can you tell me about the historical context? Curator: Well, Brussels was going through huge changes then. Imagine living through it, watching the city reshape itself! Photography was also changing the way people viewed their world. Think of this picture as more than just a pretty snapshot. It is also part of a wider cultural conversation about documenting and preserving history, and how that history affected Belgium and the world. Does that resonate? Editor: It really does. Seeing this bustling place caught still in time helps you understand so much more about history, doesn’t it? The City Hall seems so...stable. Curator: Precisely! So stoic and still amidst what I imagine were very busy streets. Like a stone anchor tying it to the place, always there. It certainly has an amazing quality! Editor: I'll never look at an old photo the same way again. Thanks! Curator: The pleasure was all mine! Every work of art, in my view, deserves such curious appreciation.