Gezicht op de markt Spa met de fontein Pouhon 1734

This print, titled "Gezicht op de markt Spa met de fontein Pouhon," offers us a glimpse into the social life centered around the marketplace and its fountain. Though the artist remains anonymous, this work captures the cultural milieu of Spa, likely during its time as a popular destination for the elite seeking health and leisure. The scene teems with figures, their attire suggesting a bourgeois class enjoying the town's amenities, and the fountain becomes a focal point, a source of life and gathering. We might ask ourselves, whose stories are missing from this idyllic depiction? What about those who served these elites, who maintained the town's infrastructure? The print invites us to consider how public spaces like the marketplace can reflect both the community's shared experiences and its social stratifications. By presenting Spa as a site of leisure and health, the print not only documents a specific place but also hints at the aspirations and values of its time, inviting reflections on how we shape and perceive our own spaces today.