Zaal van museum Het Steen in Antwerpen 1864 - 1909

Jean-Baptiste Anthony created this etching of the hall of the Museum Het Steen in Antwerp. The monochromatic tones and the angular lines used to depict the stone floor and vaulted ceilings give it a distinctly graphic feel. The cavernous space is dominated by a colossal head placed on a pedestal, dwarfing a guard nearby. The sheer scale destabilizes our sense of space. Anthony skillfully manipulates light and shadow to create depth, enhancing the contrast between the massive sculpture and the intricate architectural backdrop. The visual structure highlights the juxtaposition of the monumental with the mundane. The guard seems to be keeping watch over the outsized head, and invites reflection on themes of power, history, and the role of the museum itself as a repository of cultural memory. This etching encourages us to consider how scale and perspective shape our understanding and interpretation of cultural artifacts.