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 is a reproduction made by the Dero brothers of a ceremonial wagon parading the streets of Antwerp in 1892. High atop the structure is a figure adorned with what seems to be a laurel wreath. These wreaths have roots stretching back to ancient Greece, a symbol of triumph and honor, bestowed upon victors, athletes, and poets. We can see the symbol reappearing in Roman imperial imagery, encircling the heads of emperors as they are celebrated for military success. What is curious, though, is its cyclical journey, a constant return across centuries. Perhaps this image speaks to our collective subconscious, our enduring need to recognize and reward excellence. The symbolic language of wreaths, which evolved over time and has been passed down, taps into a powerful psychological force: the desire for acknowledgment. It is a visual echo resonating through history, reminding us of the eternal human drama of striving, achieving, and being remembered.