Gezicht op de Kapellestraat in Oud-Antwerpen op de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1894 in Antwerpen Possibly 1894 - 1895

This print shows the Kapellestraat in Old Antwerp at the World Exhibition of 1894 in Antwerp and was made by an anonymous artist. The World's Fair was designed to promote industrial progress and international cooperation. In this image, we see a romanticized view of the past, rendered in a detailed style that evokes nostalgia. The choice of subject matter, an idealized vision of old Antwerp, reflects a desire to connect with a perceived golden age. This yearning for the past was common in Europe during the late 19th century, a time of rapid industrialization and social change. The print can be interpreted as a commentary on the changing urban landscape of Antwerp. It is possibly a conservative statement, longing for a simpler, pre-industrial time. It could also be seen as an attempt to preserve cultural heritage. Historical research into the urban development of Antwerp and the cultural climate of Belgium during the late 19th century might reveal much more about the print's role in shaping public perception and social memory.