Reproductie van een aquarel van Oud-Antwerpen op de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1894 in Antwerpen, door Frans van Kuyk Possibly 1894 - 1895

This watercolor reproduction of Old Antwerp, displayed at the 1894 World’s Fair, captures a pastiche of medieval grandeur. Dominating the scene is the architectural style, with its steep gabled roofs and ornate guildhalls—symbols of civic pride and burgeoning mercantile power. Yet, observe the gallows standing prominently in the foreground. This stark symbol of justice—or injustice—resonates across centuries, from Roman crucifixions to medieval public executions. Its presence here evokes a deep, collective memory, reminding us of humanity's capacity for both order and cruelty. The juxtaposition of commercial and civic structures with the looming gallows might evoke subconscious anxieties. Consider how such symbols recur—the gallows in Goya’s stark depictions of war, or the civic buildings in propaganda. These symbols echo, transformed by time and context, yet still resonant with the echoes of our shared past. These recurrences are not linear, but cyclical, continually resurfacing, evolving, and acquiring new layers of meaning in the cultural consciousness.