Interieur van het huis van Christoffel Plantijn before 1878

Joseph Maes made this photograph of the interior of Christoffel Plantijn’s house sometime between 1838 and 1908. Plantijn was an influential printer in 16th-century Antwerp, and this image speaks to a growing interest in the preservation of historical sites and the celebration of local heroes. Taking a look at this photo, we see a carefully staged interior, complete with period furniture and décor. The fireplace, with its elaborate carvings, dominates the foreground, while a glimpse into the next room reveals more historical artifacts. In the 19th century, there was a widespread effort to define national identities, and in Belgium, this often meant looking back to the country’s rich cultural heritage. The Plantijn House, with its association to early printing, represented a vital piece of that history. Preserving and showcasing spaces like these helped to create a shared sense of national pride and cultural identity. To learn more about Plantijn’s legacy, archival materials can provide insights into the cultural and political forces that shaped the way history has been remembered.