Hotel de ville, Oudenarde before 1866

Curator: What a fascinating piece. This is a page from a sketchbook, likely predating 1866, attributed to Cundall & Fleming. It contains a sketch of the Hotel de Ville in Oudenarde alongside some text. Editor: Immediately, the faded, almost sepia tones give it such a beautiful, antique feel. And look at that building; the detail achieved with what I imagine must be a simple pencil or pen is striking. I wonder about the type of paper. Curator: Let's consider its potential circulation. This sketchbook, perhaps a personal one, likely served as a tool for architectural study and documentation, shaping perceptions and promoting particular historical narratives. We could see it as influencing contemporary urban planning or heritage preservation projects, don't you think? Editor: That’s interesting to think about, the social role it has and could continue to play. And, stepping back to the material composition, how did the qualities of this aged paper itself contribute? It is certainly deliberate, and looks rather thick. And how was the ink sourced, processed, applied, and finally how might all these factors shape our perception of this historical record, as we're looking at it today? Curator: Indeed. It shows how artistic output also contributes to institutional knowledge. By choosing to immortalize this Town Hall in their sketch, Cundall & Fleming emphasize it's cultural importance. This feeds into the ways civic pride is both constructed and expressed visually, throughout Europe at this time. Editor: Seeing this, and thinking about production of all materials used, it's impossible not to wonder what else might be communicated from an exploration of production practices that existed, those that influenced creation, in comparison to our consumption today. Curator: Yes, from sketchbook to exhibition! I wonder how Cundall & Fleming would have responded. Thank you, your analysis today has shed new light on the cultural context that these pages from the past are continuing to generate. Editor: And to you as well, thanks. Examining the materials takes us down new avenues, offering novel insights into its life then, and it’s place in our lives now.