Interieur van de kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele 1888

Wilhelmus Johannes Steenhoff made this print of the interior of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula using etching. The subtle tonal gradations of Steenhoff’s print, achieved through carefully controlled acid baths, speak to the artist's mastery of the etching process. The etcher’s tools would have allowed Steenhoff to incise fine lines into the metal plate, building up areas of shadow and light with remarkable precision. The relatively small scale suggests that Steenhoff was working in an intimate setting, emphasizing the contrast between the grandeur of the cathedral architecture and the solitude of the depicted scene. We see this in the solitary chair and the absence of people. By focusing on the quiet interior of the cathedral, Steenhoff elevates the importance of place, memory, and personal experience, adding layers of social and cultural meaning to the work. In doing so, he asks us to consider the value of both handcraft and architectural craft, dissolving boundaries between high art and everyday life.