Kanaal van Gent naar Brugge

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

### Kanaal van Gent naarugge This delicate photolithograph, titled *Kanaal van Gent Brugge* (Canal from Ghent Bruges), captures a view of one of Belgium's vital 19th-century waterways. Created anonymously, with attribution to Félix de Baerdecker, it dates from after 1861 to sometime before or in 1909. just 126 mm high by 191 mm wide, the print showcases the canal's engineering marvel—a key trade route linking Ghent's industrial heartland to Bruges' historic port, symbolizing Belgium's rapid modernization during the Industrial Revolution. Photolithography, the medium here, was a groundbreaking technique blending photography with traditional lithography. Invented in the mid-19th century, it allowed precise reproduction of photographic images on stone plates for high-quality, affordable prints. This made intricate landscapes like this canal scene accessible to a wider audience, bridging art and documentation in an era of expanding infrastructure. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228 (from renowned print collector Frits Lugt), the work highlights its place in esteemed collections. It invites us to ponder how such everyday engineering feats were celebrated as emblems of progress, offering a window into Belgium's interconnected past.