Groentemarkt te Antwerpen 1850s

Johann Wölfle created this print of the Groentemarkt in Antwerp. The image depicts a bustling marketplace scene, likely capturing a moment in 19th-century Antwerp. But beyond the surface, this image provides insights into the social and economic life of the time. Notice how the image shows the roles of different people and groups in the city's commerce. The architecture provides a backdrop, reminding us of the long history of Antwerp as a commercial center. The image, made in the 1800's, seems aware of it's own place in a longer history of images depicting market scenes. Does it romanticize the working class or does it accurately portray the social reality of the time? To fully understand an image like this, we can look into the economic history of Antwerp, the history of urban development and the history of art. By looking at all of these factors, we can truly understand the meaning of this art.