Poort in een expositie van Duitse objecten tijdens de wereldtentoonstelling te Antwerpen 1894

Th. Lantin created this photograph of a gate at the 1894 Antwerp World Fair. This exposition was held during a period of intense European competition for colonial possessions. Belgium, as a relatively new nation, was eager to prove itself on the world stage. The gate pictured here belonged to the German section of the exhibition. The architecture is in the neo-classical style, visually referencing the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. At this time, these styles were often used for public buildings to convey ideas of imperial power and authority, reminiscent of the Roman Empire. This use of architecture suggests the German Empire's aspirations to be seen as a major power. Researchers can use sources such as exhibition catalogs and newspaper articles to understand the context and reception of artworks like this. The meaning of art is not fixed but is always shaped by the social and institutional contexts in which it is created and viewed.