Frans van Kuyck et Max Rooses Vieil Anvers

Title

Frans van Kuyck et Max Rooses Vieil Anvers

Book describes the city of Antwerp on 64 pages. Magnificent book in a floral, green and gold endpaper. It includes a title page, 42 color prints and decorations within the text (with a separate index), an index for 40 illustrations without page numbers, and an index for the last 15 etchings after page 62. The title page bears the text: 'Le Quartier du Vieil-Anvers à l'Exposition universelle de 1894, dépeint par Frans van Kuyck, décrit par Max Rooses.' (German translation: 'The district of Old Antwerp at the 1894 World's Fair, depicted by Frans van Kuyck, described by Max Rooses.') There is a stain between pages 10 and 11.

c. 1902

Artist

Druckerei Buschmann (1814-1853)

The J.E. Buschmann printing company was founded in Antwerp in 1842 by Joseph Ernest Buschmann, a native Luxembourger. It quickly established itself as one of the most renowned printing houses in Flanders at a time when Flemish national consciousness was flourishing. Buschmann was not only a printer, but also a publisher who was committed to Dutch-language literature in Belgium - at a time when French was the dominant cultural language.

Historical Description

Antwerp (French: Anvers) is a major city in northern Belgium, located in the Flanders region, along the River Scheldt. Its history dates back to Roman times, but it began to rise as a commercial hub during the Middle Ages. In the 16th century, Antwerp experienced its golden age: it became one of the most important financial and trade centers in Europe, especially known for textiles, diamonds, and spices. The city attracted merchants, artists, and intellectuals from across Europe. Painters like Peter Paul Rubens left a lasting mark on this era. The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) between Spain and the Netherlands marked the beginning of economic decline. The blockade of the Scheldt by the northern provinces crippled trade for centuries. It wasn't until the 19th century that Antwerp recovered economically, as the port was modernized and the Scheldt reopened to navigation. Today, the Port of Antwerp is one of the largest in Europe, and the city remains a cultural and economic center of Belgium.