Gezicht op een opstelling kolen op de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1885 in Antwerpen before 1885

This is an anonymous engraving depicting a coal display at the 1885 World Exhibition in Antwerp. The composition is dominated by a pyramidal structure of stacked coal, ascending to a statue, all set within an ornate architectural space. The black and white medium emphasizes the textures of the coal against the smooth surfaces of the surrounding display cases and walls. The artist uses a formal approach to the subject. The careful arrangement of the coal into a geometric form reflects the industrial era's fascination with organization and control. The pyramid, an ancient symbol of power, here represents the modern power of industry and its reliance on coal. The semiotic structure of this image reveals the values of the time: the coal, a symbol of progress, arranged to evoke awe and signify dominance. This is not merely a display of material but a statement about human innovation and its impact on society.