Stadsgezicht, mogelijk Brussel 1876 - 1889

Willem Linnig the Younger created this etching of a cityscape, possibly Brussels, in the late 19th century. The detailed rendering of the urban landscape invites us to consider the rapid transformations taking place in European cities during this era. Linnig, as a man living in this time, surely experienced these changes personally. The etching’s focus on architecture and urban development raises questions about whose stories are being told and whose are being erased. The rise of industrialization and capitalism dramatically reshaped city life, altering social structures and contributing to the marginalization of certain communities. How did those displaced by modernization experience city life? Look closely: how does Linnig use light and shadow? The ethereal light creates a dream-like quality which complicates the narrative of progress and prompts a deeper reflection on the human cost of urban expansion. This etching encourages us to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of historical change.