Ruïnes van het Arsenaal te Antwerpen, 1830 1830 - 1831

Théodore Fourmois made this print of the ruins of the Antwerp arsenal in 1830. It gives us insight into the social and political context of Belgium at this time. The print depicts the aftermath of a fire at the arsenal during the Belgian Revolution. This revolution was a direct response to the perceived economic and political oppression by the Dutch King William I. Fourmois was only sixteen when he made this print. The revolution was a time of great social upheaval and change. Artists played a role in shaping public opinion and documenting the events of the time. Fourmois' print shows us the destructive consequences of political conflict. The date on the print and the inscription below the image suggests that it might be a documentary record as much as a work of artistic commentary. To fully understand the print, we need to look at the wider context of Belgian history. Prints and engravings can tell us a lot about social and political change in the past if we know how to look at them.