Drie gezichten op de optocht van Landjuweel ter ere van het vijftigjarig bestaan van de Academie d'Archéologie de Belgique in 1892 in Antwerpen 1892

Frères Dero captured this image of the parade of Landjuweel in Antwerp in 1892. Here, the recurrent symbol of flags, banners, and emblems speaks of collective identity and pride. Flags, in their essence, are not merely pieces of cloth; they are vessels of collective memory. They carry the weight of history, struggles, and aspirations. Consider the Roman standards, the medieval banners of feudal lords, or even the flags of revolutionary movements. Each represents a concentrated form of social cohesion and shared values. What is particularly striking is how the impulse to rally around such symbols persists across millennia. The act of parading with flags can be seen as a form of ritualistic display, a public acting out of shared beliefs, and an assertion of communal strength. This deeply ingrained behavior connects to our primal need for belonging. In the collective psyche, such displays tap into a wellspring of emotions—loyalty, fervor, and unity. The images remind us that we are, at heart, social beings, driven by forces that transcend individual existence.