Expositie van Belgische objecten tijdens de wereldtentoonstelling te Antwerpen 1894

Th. Lantin captured this image of the Belgian exhibit at the Antwerp World Fair. The late 19th century was the age of imperial display, and Belgium was eager to show off what it had to offer. Note the long perspective of glass cases, each a little temple of national industry. The Antwerp World Fair was one of many such fairs, which served as a way for countries to compete with each other economically and culturally. Belgium, under King Leopold II, was aggressively building its wealth and industry. What is not on display here is the source of much of that wealth: the exploitation of the Congo Free State. As an art historian, I am always interested in what the image leaves out. Research into primary source documents from the time, such as official reports, newspapers, and personal letters, would give us a clearer idea of the political motivations behind such displays of national pride.