Reproductie van een ontwerp voor de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1885 te Antwerpen door Frans van Kuyck before 1885

This is a reproduction of a design for the 1885 World Exhibition in Antwerp, made by Emile Aubry. World exhibitions, like the one envisioned here, were key sites for the display of national identity and technological progress during the 19th century. This image offers a window into the way Belgium, newly independent, sought to present itself on the world stage. The design, created in Belgium, employs classical imagery, with figures reminiscent of ancient Roman depictions of prosperity and bounty. Yet it’s framed within a distinctly modern context of industrial advancement. Consider the interplay between tradition and modernity, reflecting the ambitions and anxieties of a rapidly changing society. To fully understand this artwork, one must research the social, economic, and political conditions of Belgium in the late 19th century. In doing so, the design becomes more than just a pretty picture, but a complex cultural artifact.