Gezicht op het plein met de mineraalwaterbron te Spa 1755 - 1779

This print, titled "View of the square with the mineral water spring in Spa," was created by the Kaiserlich Franziskische Akademie. Imagine yourself transported to this square, a hub of 18th-century social life. This was a time of rigid social hierarchies, where leisure and access to health remedies like mineral water were largely the domain of the wealthy elite. Notice the figures strolling and being transported in carriages. They epitomize the upper classes, their attire and leisurely activities speaking volumes about their status. Consider the exclusion implied here. Who is not present? Where are the working classes, the servants, the marginalized? Their absence is a stark reminder of the social stratification of the era. The composition reinforces a narrative of privilege and exclusion. This image serves as a window into a world defined by class distinctions, inviting us to reflect on the societal structures that shape our experiences and perceptions.