Compositie van gipsen ornamenten uit het atelier van J. Delbove, Brussel, België 1860 - 1882

Charles De Trez made this photograph of plaster ornaments in Brussels, Belgium, sometime in the mid-19th century. The objects depicted were likely for use in interior decoration. The image captures a moment in the history of taste and industrial production. Plaster was a cheap and easily molded material, used to create imitations of carved stone or wood paneling. These ornaments would have catered to a rising middle class keen to emulate the lifestyles of the aristocracy, but without the expense. Photography itself was also a relatively new medium at this time, and it served as a means for businesses like J. Delbove’s studio to advertise their wares. The historian might look to trade directories, design books, and architectural pattern books to understand the context of this image. The photograph is a document of the democratization of taste and the rise of consumer culture in 19th century Europe.