Gezicht op het Koningsplein en het standbeeld van Godfried van Bouillon in Brussel before 1869

This is a photograph by an artist known only as BT, showing the statue of Godfried van Bouillon in Koningsplein, Brussels. This image presents an interesting interplay between art, public space, and national identity in 19th-century Belgium. Statues like this were often erected in public squares to promote a sense of shared history and cultural pride, so the decision to depict Godfried van Bouillon, a hero of the First Crusade, is a significant one. Belgium, at this time, was a relatively new nation searching for figures to rally around. Godfried's image served as a powerful symbol during a period of nation-building, linking the country to a heroic and somewhat mythical past. The photograph itself, as a widely reproducible medium, played a role in disseminating this image and reinforcing its cultural significance. To fully understand this, we can research the political climate of 19th-century Belgium and examine archival materials related to the statue's commission and unveiling. This will reveal how these social and institutional contexts affect the interpretation of art.