Een Niet voor de loterij ten behoeve van de slachtoffers in Wageningen van de watersnood van 1855 1855

This print, made in 1876 by H. van Munster & Zoon, depicts a scene at the Taal en Letterkundig Congres in Brussels. It offers a window into the cultural and political dynamics of the time. The image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. The setting, a literary congress, suggests an institutional framework for the promotion of language and literature, probably with a sense of national identity. The artist uses satire to comment on social structures. It could be seen as progressive as it critiques the institutions of art, or conservative, if it defends traditional values and norms. As historians, we must consider the social and institutional context in which art is made to understand better the true meaning. By looking at sources such as archives, and contemporary publications we can gain insight into the cultural values and political debates that shaped the image. The meaning of art is contingent on the social and institutional context.