Reproductie van een gravure van de Exposition Nationale van 1880 in Brussel, waarin twee fotografische gezichten op de expositie zijn verwerkt, door Armand Heins 1881 - 1882

This reproduction of an engraving by Armand Heins shows the National Exhibition of 1880 in Brussels and incorporates photographic views of the exposition. The use of photography as a source for engraving highlights a changing relationship between art, technology and industry in late 19th-century Belgium. National exhibitions, like this one, were important sites for the display of new technologies, industrial products, and artistic achievements, meant to show the progress of the nation-state and to promote both national pride and international commerce. The engraving provides us with a glimpse into the layout and design of such expositions, revealing a meticulously organized space filled with displays and visitors. What were the politics of display? How did this exhibition reflect the social and economic realities of its time? As art historians, we might consult archival materials related to the 1880 Brussels exhibition to gain further insight into its organization, purpose, and reception, emphasizing that any artwork only gains its full meaning from its social and institutional context.