Gezicht op een opstelling van alcoholfabrikant J. Meeûs op de Wereldtentoonstelling van Antwerpen in 1894 1894

Charles Bernhoeft captured this image of the J. Meeûs alcohol distillery exhibit at the Antwerp World Fair in 1894. The photograph’s composition is dominated by the symmetrical structure of the distillery’s display, creating a visual hierarchy. The archway, flanked by ornate columns, frames a view into the exhibition space, where draped fabric and displayed barrels are positioned in a receding perspective. Notice how Bernhoeft uses light and shadow to accentuate the texture of the architectural elements, adding depth and complexity to the otherwise rigid geometric forms. The image functions as a semiotic space where industrial progress is celebrated through classical architectural motifs. This creates a tension between tradition and modernity. The structure, therefore, becomes more than just a display, acting as a signifier of cultural values at the turn of the century.