Gezicht op gildehuis de Borse aan de Grote Markt in Brussel, België before 1880

This print shows the Gildehuis de Borse, or the ‘guild house’ in the Grand Market in Brussels. The anonymous printmaker uses the photogravure process, a method of etching that translates a photograph into an inked plate. The image's material qualities influence its appearance, creating a soft tonal range and capturing intricate details of the guild house architecture. The printmaking process itself carries social significance. It allowed for mass production of images, making art and information more accessible to a wider audience. This contrasts with the exclusive nature of craft guilds, like the one depicted, which historically restricted membership based on skill, social status, and gender. Consider the labor involved in both the physical construction of the guild house, with its stone and ornamentation, and the subsequent reproduction of its image via printmaking. This challenges our understanding of artistic value, prompting reflection on how technology and labor intersect.