Gezicht de ingang van de school voor volwassenen in Luik before 1896

Victor van Tricht made this photogravure, "View of the Entrance to the Adult School in Liège," sometime before his death in 1897. The photogravure process involves etching a photographic image onto a metal plate, then using that plate to create a print. The result is a finely detailed image with a wide tonal range, capturing the architecture of the school and the surrounding urban environment. Each print required careful preparation of the plate, inking, and pressing, demanding skilled labor. Photogravure was a favored method for reproducing artworks and photographs, making art more widely accessible in a time before digital reproduction. The image speaks to social context as well. The school itself symbolizes education and opportunity for adults, while the photogravure, as a means of mass communication, democratizes access to art. The convergence of technology, labor, and social progress makes this unassuming print a potent cultural artifact.