Gezicht op de ruïnes van de abdij van Villers c. 1825 - 1827

Théodore Fourmois made this print of the ruins of Villers Abbey in Belgium, sometime in the mid-19th century. The image encapsulates a particular cultural mood in Belgium following the Napoleonic era, in which the medieval past became a focus for national identity. We see a ruined abbey, once a symbol of religious authority and social order, now overgrown and crumbling. The print aestheticizes these ruins, inviting the viewer to contemplate the passage of time and the transience of human achievement. This interest in the past also coincided with the growth of historical scholarship and the preservation of cultural heritage. Today, historians look at images like this alongside other sources, such as architectural plans, financial records, and personal letters, to understand the complex relationship between art, history, and national identity.