Hotel de Ville, Antwerp c. 19th century

Curator: What a fascinating print. This is John Coney's "Hotel de Ville, Antwerp." Coney, born in Boston in 1655, captured the grandeur of this Flemish city hall with remarkable detail. Editor: The intricate linework immediately strikes me; it's almost architectural in its precision. But there’s also a delicate, almost ethereal quality to the light. Curator: Indeed, Coney, known as a silversmith and engraver in colonial Boston, offers a window into how a major European center was perceived across the Atlantic. Images like these helped to shape colonial American architectural tastes. Editor: I'm curious about the composition. The way the buildings on either side frame the Hôtel de Ville creates a powerful sense of depth, pulling the eye into the center. Curator: This print played a role in disseminating European architectural styles. Consider how such imagery may have influenced public buildings of the time in the colonies. Editor: Absolutely. And the way the artist utilizes the light and shadow to enhance the three-dimensionality. Curator: It is remarkable how Coney used this image of civic pride for those building their own public identities. Editor: Yes, a testament to the power of visual representation to shape perceptions of civic space across continents.