Interieur van de slaapkamer in het huis van Christoffel Plantijn before 1886

Joseph Maes created this photo print titled 'Interior of the bedroom in the house of Christoffel Plantijn' some time between 1838 and 1908. The image offers a view into a private space that once belonged to a significant figure in the history of printing. This glimpse into Plantijn's bedroom, with its ornate wooden door and staircase, speaks to the intersection of domesticity, labor, and status. The Plantijn house was not just a home but also a workspace, a hub of intellectual and artistic production. As you consider this image, think about the lives of those who inhabited and worked in this space. What was it like to be a woman in a 16th-century printing house, or an apprentice learning the trade? What were the power dynamics at play in this household? This image prompts us to consider the many untold stories embedded within these walls. It serves as a reminder that every space, no matter how seemingly ordinary, is laden with history, identity, and meaning.