Gezicht op het Servische deel van de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1885 in Antwerpen before 1885

This photographic print captures the Serbian section of the 1885 World’s Fair in Antwerp. Although the artist is unknown, the image itself provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and economic ambitions of Serbia at the time. Notice the carefully arranged display: textiles hanging as backdrops, interspersed with framed portraits. The textiles would have been produced through skilled labor, reflecting a cottage industry, while agriculture exemplifies Serbia's economic output. We can imagine the hands that spun, wove, and embroidered these fabrics, as well as those that tilled the soil and harvested the crops. The photograph subtly promotes a vision of Serbian industry and agriculture, aiming to attract international trade and investment. This image is a window into a specific moment in time, but also speaks to the broader dynamics of globalization, labor, and the construction of national identity through the display of material culture. It blurs the lines between documentation, craft, and economic promotion.