Basreliëf van het Hôtel des Douanes te Rouen, voorstellende Hermes tussen koopwaar before 1895

This is a photograph of a bas-relief made by N. Oberlender, which depicts Hermes amidst merchandise in the Hôtel des Douanes in Rouen. As a 'bas-relief', this artwork is a kind of sculpture in which figures project slightly from a background. The level of detail suggests that the artist used specialized tools to carve into the stone or plaster, gradually revealing the figures of Hermes and the goods he is surrounded by. We see an interplay between the realm of commerce, and the world of mythology. Hermes, traditionally seen as the messenger of the gods, here becomes a figure of trade and exchange. This would have brought a sense of classical prestige to the Custom's House, celebrating industry through a connection with ancient Greece. The artwork also commemorates the labor involved in the transport and exchange of goods, subtly elevating the status of such work. Ultimately, the artwork speaks to the power of materials and making to imbue objects with meaning, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and the everyday world of labor and commerce.