Interieur van de Sint-Jacobskerk te Luik before 1881

This print shows the interior of the Sint-Jacobskerk in Liège, Belgium. It was constructed between 1543 and 1558. The image is a study in pattern and repetition. Stone arches, tracery, and stained glass windows dominate the architectural space. The photograph is a record of human skill and labor, from the stone carving, to the glassmaking and setting. Look closely, and you can see the hand of many different makers in every aspect of the church. Each stone had to be carefully quarried, shaped, and set, and the glass was produced through a complex process of blowing, cutting and leading. Crafting these soaring spaces was an extraordinary investment of resources. The image before you stands as a reminder of the social values and labor practices that shaped the late medieval world.