Plattegrond van Brussel 1751 - 1762

Editor: We're looking at "Plattegrond van Brussel," a cityscape made between 1751 and 1762, etched and engraved by Isaac Basire. The detail is incredible; it feels like I could wander through the old city. What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: It’s less a document and more a dream, isn't it? The artist wasn’t just charting streets, but shaping our memory of a place, bending reality to fit an ideal. See how the light seems to caress the walls, almost a ghostly presence? Maps back then had a theatrical quality; they told a story, not just of geography, but of power. Notice anything symbolic, hinting at wealth and strength? Editor: There's some sort of crown on the bottom left! Is that a symbol of the Queen of Hungary? It makes the map more than just streets; it suggests a political connection, almost like propaganda. Curator: Exactly! Basire wasn't just an artist but a storyteller, carefully constructing an image to showcase both beauty and authority. Imagine those streets bustling with life, rumors, dreams. That's what truly captivates me - that ghost echo of the city in its prime. Editor: I didn’t think about it that way! So, maps can be more than directions; they can be arguments, fantasies, works of art. I think I'll view my Google Maps a bit differently now. Curator: Yes, consider it an invitation to look beyond the gridlines and the ‘you are here’ and into the soul of the place.