Item 12: Along the River Lys in the flax country of western Belgium

Black and white image shows the river Lys in the background where a horse-drawn conveyance is gathering the retted flax from the water. In the foreground, conical shaped batches of dried flax are lined up for retting. The retting allows the outer bark of the flax stems to be removed from the inner fibre for spinning. This is a scene in Courtrai, Belgium, the center of Belgium's linen industry. Meadville, Pa.: Keystone View Company, ca. 1900-1920. 17.75 x 8.75 cm.

Format: Stereoptic print.