Gezicht op een wagen uit de optocht van Landjuweel ter ere van het vijftigjarig bestaan van de Academie d'Archéologie de Belgique in 1892 in Antwerpen 1892

This print by the Dero brothers depicts a float from a parade in Antwerp, in 1892, celebrating the anniversary of an archeological society. The image itself, of course, is made with ink on paper, a relatively straightforward reproductive medium. But consider the object that it represents. The float itself is a massive undertaking, requiring not only design but sophisticated carpentry, painting and decoration. These temporary structures are often collaboratively produced, and the skilled labor required for the project highlights a complex social dynamic. The artisans involved would have had specialized knowledge, setting them apart from the general population, yet their contribution would have been largely anonymous, subsumed within the spectacle of the parade. So, while the print gives us a glimpse of the float’s ornate appearance, it also prompts us to think about the many hands and hours that went into its making, and the social context in which such displays of collective effort take place. Recognizing this helps us to look beyond traditional boundaries between art, craft, and social history.