Twee mannen bij een trap in een Antwerpse lithografenwerkplaats 1870 - 1913

Jos Ratinckx made this work, "Two Men by a Staircase in an Antwerp Lithography Workshop", in the late 19th or early 20th century. The composition draws us into a cluttered yet ordered workspace, articulated with fine, precise lines. The staircase divides the space, leading the eye upward and deeper into the scene. The linear perspective and tonal variations create depth, while the density of detail captures the atmosphere of a working environment. The composition can be understood through the semiotic lens, with the staircase symbolizing progression, the books knowledge, and the tools labour and skill. The arrangement of objects and figures reveals a hierarchy of space, emphasizing the functional nature of the workshop. The staircase here functions not just as a structural element within the composition but also serves as a signifier of movement and transition within the workspace and the broader cultural context of industrial Antwerp.