Hendrik van Leuven verscheurt de Belgische vlag, 1831 1831

This anonymous engraving, "Hendrik van Leuven verscheurt de Belgische vlag, 1831," depicts a dramatic moment from the Belgian Revolution of 1830-31. The scene shows Hendrik van Leuven, a citizen of Antwerp, tearing down the Belgian flag, a symbol of the newly independent nation, while soldiers look on. The work, created in 1831, reflects the political tensions and the struggle for national identity during this tumultuous period in Belgian history. The etching captures the fervor of the moment and highlights the individual’s defiance in the face of a shifting power structure.