Gezicht op het British Museum, te Londen 1843 - 1885

This is a print of the British Museum in London by an anonymous artist. The building's architecture is defined by the presence of classical columns, reminiscent of ancient Greek temples, that symbolize knowledge, reason, and the foundations of Western civilization. Consider how the columns, which were used in ancient Greece as a sign of democracy and philosophical discourse, are repurposed here to represent the authority and order of the British Empire. These columns, which once supported sacred temples and sites of civic engagement, now uphold a museum filled with artifacts from all over the world, demonstrating a transformation in meaning over time. The act of collecting and exhibiting cultural artifacts within this neo-classical structure underscores a complex interplay of cultural appropriation and preservation, influencing our collective memory and perception of history. The columns stand as a powerful, if sometimes contradictory, symbol of cultural memory and continuity.